Noncontrast MR techniques and imaging of cartilage.

Recent advances in noncontrast MR imaging produce images with higher quality for standardized diagnostic interpretation and in many cases may obviate the need for intra-articular contrast agents. These techniques may now be applied to all joints, and are particularly efficacious in the assessment of articular cartilage. Additional specialized noncontrast sequences enable the direct quantitative assessment of articular cartilage and other joint structures, thereby providing indirect assessment of tissue health and biochemistry. T2 mapping displays local water content and collagen fibril orientation, and the method of T1 rho mapping displays the local proteoglycan content of the tissue. Ultrashort echo imaging improves the contrast of joint structures with high tissue isotropy or low water content, such as ligament, tendon, and meniscus.