Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in Osteoarthritis (OA) assessment, both clinically and in research studies. Numerous different MRI contrast mechanisms highlight abnormalities or changes over time, with increasing tendency toward quantitative techniques and true 3D imaging. Scan protocols can include multiple contrasts, often resulting in exam protocols of 20-30 minutes for clinical imaging, and even longer for research studies, which can limit utilization or study sizes due to cost. Rapid MRI protocols are being explored using only a few scans, to offer exam times in just 5-10 minutes, and including both knees. This has potential to rival X-ray imaging, as it can offer comprehensive joint information in a comparable time and perhaps at a comparable cost. Benefits include scanning many more subjects in studies, acquiring quantitative information in both knees in patients, and being able to scan at earlier stages of disease. Combined with advances in data science, rapid quantitative MRI protocols could offer much better understanding of the onset and progression of different OA phenotypes as well as the ability to offer quantitative endpoints for drug development and ultimately triage to different minimally invasive OA treatments.
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