biostudies-literatureUnknown36(1)Aschauer KHeinen and LöwensteinBundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungAlexander von Humboldt-StiftungSiemens HealthineersLeibniz-GemeinschaftPfizer Pharma GmbHthe Competence Network Diabetesthe Competence Network Heart FailureBundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und ErnährungNovo Nordisk Pharmathe German Asthma and COPD NetworkImedos SystemsDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftGABA InternationalMinisterium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur Mecklenburg-VorpommernData Input GmbHAlfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-StiftungGenopathomik<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to establish normal knee cartilage T2-values at 1.5-Tesla, assess the influence of age and sex on T2-values, and compares T2-times between subjects with and without morphological cartilage changes.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>A sagittal 2D T2-weighted multi-slice multi-echo sequence (MSME) sequence with automatic generation of a color-coded T2-map was acquired at 1.5-Tesla in 929 volunteers (ages 28-89) from the Study-of-Health-in-Pomerania TREND-1 cohort. Knee morphology was assessed with the modified Noyes Score in eight cartilage regions. T2 measurements were performed manually in seven cartilage regions, including superficial and deep cartilage layers.<h4>Results</h4>Subjects with normal cartilage morphology (300 subjects) showed significant T2-value differences across cartilage regions (p ≤ 0.001), with higher values in femoral cartilage and superficial layers. T2-values increased with age (p ≤ 0.001), and women had higher T2-values in the femoral, tibial, and medial femorotibial compartments. The subjects with evidence of pathological cartilage morphology changes (629 subjects) had higher T2-values compared to the subjects with structurally normal knee cartilage in MRI (p ≤ 0.001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study provides population-based 1.5-Tesla knee cartilage T2-values, showing age-related increases and higher values in superficial and femoral layers. Pathological cartilage morphology was associated with elevated T2-values.<h4>Key points</h4>Question This study examines early cartilage degeneration by establishing normal T2-values and analyzing how demographics and morphological cartilage changes impact these values. Findings T2-times were higher in superficial femoral cartilage but lower in retropatellar, tibial cartilage, and deep layers, increasing with age and pathological cartilage changes. Clinical relevance This study establishes normal T2-values for knee cartilage at 1.5-Tesla, identifies age- and sex-related variations, and associates elevated T2-values to morphological cartilage changes, enhancing cartilage health understanding and early diagnostic precision.European radiology308-323https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12711982biostudies-literatureAssociation of layer-specific knee cartilage T2-relaxation measurements with age, sex and cartilage morphology at 1.5-T MRI.PMC12711982Schmidt COSeitel MAschauer KHosten NWeber MABulow RMarquardt HWeber FKlaan BfalseAssociation of layer-specific knee cartilage T2-relaxation measurements with age, sex and cartilage morphology at 1.5-T MRI.<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to establish normal knee cartilage T2-values at 1.5-Tesla, assess the influence of age and sex on T2-values, and compares T2-times between subjects with and without morphological cartilage changes.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>A sagittal 2D T2-weighted multi-slice multi-echo sequence (MSME) sequence with automatic generation of a color-coded T2-map was acquired at 1.5-Tesla in 929 volunteers (ages 28-89) from the Study-of-Health-in-Pomerania TREND-1 cohort. Knee morphology was assessed with the modified Noyes Score in eight cartilage regions. T2 measurements were performed manually in seven cartilage regions, including superficial and deep cartilage layers.<h4>Results</h4>Subjects with normal cartilage morphology (300 subjects) showed significant T2-value differences across cartilage regions (p ≤ 0.001), with higher values in femoral cartilage and superficial layers. T2-values increased with age (p ≤ 0.001), and women had higher T2-values in the femoral, tibial, and medial femorotibial compartments. The subjects with evidence of pathological cartilage morphology changes (629 subjects) had higher T2-values compared to the subjects with structurally normal knee cartilage in MRI (p ≤ 0.001).<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study provides population-based 1.5-Tesla knee cartilage T2-values, showing age-related increases and higher values in superficial and femoral layers. Pathological cartilage morphology was associated with elevated T2-values.<h4>Key points</h4>Question This study examines early cartilage degeneration by establishing normal T2-values and analyzing how demographics and morphological cartilage changes impact these values. Findings T2-times were higher in superficial femoral cartilage but lower in retropatellar, tibial cartilage, and deep layers, increasing with age and pathological cartilage changes. Clinical relevance This study establishes normal T2-values for knee cartilage at 1.5-Tesla, identifies age- and sex-related variations, and associates elevated T2-values to morphological cartilage changes, enhancing cartilage health understanding and early diagnostic precision.2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-06T05:02:34.356Z2026-05-26T03:12:05.827ZS-EPMC127119824071582410.1007/s00330-025-11806-8