Longitudinal analysis of MR spin-spin relaxation times (T2) in medial femorotibial cartilage of adolescent vs mature athletes: dependence of deep and superficial zone properties on sex and age

In this first pilot study on quantitative imaging of cartilage maturation in healthy, athletic subjects, we find evidence of cartilage compositional change in deep cartilage layers of the medial femorotibial compartment in adolescents, most likely related to organizational changes in the collagen matrix.