Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40990983›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2026

Ultrashort echo time bi-component analysis of tibiotalar articular cartilage after long-distance running.

Dantian Zhu, Yiyin Hu, Feier Deng, Wenhao Wu, Wei Li, Jiaxin Feng, Yajun Ma, Shaolin Li, Yijie Fang

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Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dantian Zhu *Department of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Yiyin Hu *Department of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Feier DengDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Wenhao WuDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Wei LiDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Jiaxin FengDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
Yajun MaDepartment of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Shaolin LiDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China. lishlin5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yijie FangDepartment of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China. fangyj5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7094-6753

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82101995National Natural Science Foundation of China 82172053
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate tibiotalar cartilage changes in amateur marathon runners pre- and post-marathon using 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) bi-component analysis. MATERIALS AND

methodsAmateur runners were prospectively enrolled and underwent ankle MRI at three time points: pre-marathon, 2 days post-marathon, and 4 weeks post-marathon. UTE component analysis was used to obtain single-component values (T2*M), and bi-component values (short (T2*S) and long T2* component values (T2*L), and short T2* fractions) of cartilage. Sagittal images were analyzed by segmenting tibial and talus cartilage into 12 subregions (medial/lateral, anterior/middle/posterior).

resultsThirty-two runners (26 men, 6 women; mean age, 39.80 ± 6.00 years) were evaluated. UTE component analysis parameters increased in most subregions after running, with T2*M increasing further at 4 weeks, while T2*S, T2*L, and short T2* fractions decreased. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed significant T2*S differences in the middle and posterior medial tibia (MTiM, MTiP), the middle medial talus (MTaM), the anterior, middle, and posterior lateral tibia (LTiA, LTiM, and LTiP), and the middle and posterior lateral talus (LTaM and LTaP) (p < 0.05). Short T2* fractions exhibited significant changes in MTiM, MTiP, MTaM, LTiM, and LTaM (RM-ANOVA, p < 0.05). MTiP, MTaP, LTiM, and LTaM showed significant T2*M changes (RM-ANOVA, p < 0.05). Only LTaM showed significant T2*L changes (Friedman's rank test, p < 0.05).

conclusionsThe T2*S and short T2* fractions from UTE bi-component analysis may be more sensitive than T2*M, offering a promising method for detecting dynamic changes in ankle cartilage following long-distance running. KEY POINTS: Question Long-distance running causes changes in the tibiotalar articular cartilage. Can UTE component analysis of T2* monitor dynamic changes of tibiotalar articular cartilage non-invasively? Findings T2*S and short T2* fractions of UTE bi-component analysis were superior to single-component analysis in monitoring dynamic changes in ankle cartilage. Clinical relevance This study suggests that the UTE bi-component T2* analysis detects exercise-induced cartilage changes, allowing early matrix assessment in at-risk populations and supporting prevention strategies for athletes.

Indexed as

Ankle JointCartilage, ArticularMagnetic Resonance ImagingMarathon RunningRunningTibiaAdultFemaleHumansImaging, Three-DimensionalMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesAnkle jointCartilage, ArticularMagnetic resonance imagingMarathon running

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.