Speaker: Frank Roemer, MD
Title: MRI of Cartilage - What is New and What do We know?
The Department of Medical Imaging is pleased to have Frank Roemer, MD, presenting at our Grand Rounds on Wednesday, August 22nd, in Room 2117 at 12:00 pm.
Dr. Frank Roemer is a musculoskeletal radiologist with a strong focus on MRI. He currently holds academic appointments as Professor of Radiology at the University of Erlangen, Germany and is Adjunct Associate Professor at Boston University. He is Attending Radiologist and Director of Muskuloskeletal Radiology at the Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen.
Dr. Roemer is an internationally recognized scientist and has authored 290+ peer-reviewed scientific publications. Dr. Roemer’s research interests include imaging of musculoskeletal diseases, with a focus on MRI and osteoarthritis, and imaging in sports medicine. He is regularly invited internationally to present at major scientific conferences, has authored multiple book chapters, and educational and scientific exhibits at various international radiological, orthopedic and rheumatological meetings. He has been Associate Editor of “Osteoarthritis Cartilage” since 2011. He is working in close collaboration with multiple leading scientific institutions worldwide focusing on osteoarthritis and MSK disorders.
Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most important imaging modality for the evaluation of traumatic or degenerative cartilaginous lesions in the knee. It is a powerful noninvasive tool for detecting such lesions and monitoring the effects of pharmacologic and surgical therapy. The specific MR imaging techniques used for these purposes can be divided into two broad categories according to their usefulness for morphologic or compositional evaluation. To assess the structure of knee cartilage, standard spin-echo (SE) and gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequences, fast SE sequences, and three-dimensional SE and GRE sequences are available.
To evaluate the collagen network and proteoglycan content in the knee cartilage matrix, compositional assessment techniques such as T2 mapping, delayed gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of cartilage (or dGEMRIC), T1r imaging, sodium imaging, and diffusion-weighted imaging are available. In addition, multiple morphologic cartilage classifications are in use with close communication between the radiologist and the clinical referrers being paramount for successful application of these. Based on morphology and associated structural imaging finding acute traumatic cartilage damage may be differentiated from more long standing chronic changes.
Cartilage injuries are common, especially in athletes. Because these injuries frequently affect young patients, and they have the potential to progress to osteoarthritis, treatment to alleviate symptoms and delay joint degeneration is warranted. A number of surgical techniques are available to treat focal chondral defects, including marrow stimulation, osteochondral auto- and allografting, and autologous chondrocyte implantation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides unparalleled noninvasive assessment of the repair site and all other joint tissues. The principles of state-of-the-art morphologic and compositional MR imaging techniques for imaging of cartilage repair and their application to longitudinal studies will be presented.
College of Medicine, Room 2117