The mean signal intensity drop of 50% was reached 60 minutes after bolus injection in the TMJ disc, compared to a nearly 40% drop in meniscal tissue intensity after three hours [32]. Contrast agent kinetics in the TMJ disc seem to be substantially different compared to the fibrocartilage selleck compound of the menisci. The limitations of this feasibility study are the low number of asymptomatic volunteers included. In order to specify the drop in T1 values more precisely and also recommend time frame for post-contrast agent T1 measurement more precisely, the number of subjects should be higher in future studies. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of measuring contrast agent kinetics in asymptomatic

volunteers to provide a clinical time frame for the best dGEMRIC measurements of the TMJ disc in patients. In contrast to other studies on contrast agent kinetics in cartilage, the volunteers were not instructed to move the mandible for a faster uptake Cyclopamine datasheet of contrast agent. The use of double dose (0.2 mmol/kg) Gadolinium-based contrast agent pose another limitation of our study. According to the updated ESUR Contrast Medium Safety Committee guidelines [35] single dose (0.1 mmol/kg) Gadolinium-based contrast agent should be used. The ESUR

Contrast Medium Safety Committee guidelines pose a regularly updated evidence for reducing the risk of Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), which is associated with the intravenous application of a gadolinium based contrast media during dGEMRIC. The potential long-term problems from retention of small amounts of free gadolinium in the body after procedures enhanced with gadolinium-based contrast media are also considered [35]. In addition, these preliminary results with the three ROI evaluations

within the TMJ disc provided an initial regional analysis of the contrast agent distribution within the disc, and thus, differences in the GAG content in different regions of Teicoplanin the normal articular disc. The individual variations, even at time point T130, could be due to individually different functional loading of the TMJ. Biochemical MR may lead to a better understanding of the important biomechanical role of the TMJ, its different pathologies and could, in the long term, be useful in monitoring of the patients after different therapeutic procedures for different TMDs. The preliminary results of our study showed that T1(Gd) maps calculated from 2D inversion recovery and 3D-GRE sequences are feasible for the in vivo assessment of the fibrocartilage disc of the TMJ. Similar to articular cartilage, but unlike preliminary results from the meniscal tissue, there seems to be a plateau for contrast agent uptake, starting 60 minutes after administration. The beginning of this plateau may be considered a suitable time point for dGEMRIC-like T1 mapping of the TMJ disc, even though the 3D gradient echo sequences indicate a statistically significant T1 drop earlier.