Quantitative T2 mapping of the glenohumeral joint cartilage in asymptomatic shoulders and shoulders with increasing severity of rotator cuff pathology

Highlights • Glenohumeral cartilage T2 values were correlated to increasing rotator cuff pathology severity. • Massive tear versus lesser injury differences were most evident in superior humeral cartilage. • Sagittal T2 mapping best captures superior humeral head cartilage change in massive tear patients.
Purpose To examine the relationship between glenohumeral cartilage T2 mapping values and rotator cuff pathology. Method Fifty-nine subjects (age 48.2 ± 13.5 years, 15 asymptomatic volunteers and 10 tendinosis, 13 partial-thickness tear, 8 full-thickness tear, and 13 massive tear patients) underwent glenohumeral cartilage T2 mapping. The humeral head cartilage was segmented in the sagittal and coronal planes. The glenoid cartilage was segmented in the coronal plane. Group means for each region were calculated and compared between the groups. Results Massive tear group T2 values were significantly higher than the asymptomatic group values for the humeral head cartilage included in the sagittal (45 ± 7 versus 32 ± 4 ms, p