Evaluation of Humeral Head Cartilage Using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging T1ρ Relaxation Time Mapping Technique: A Comparison between Young and Elderly Healthy People

Go Miake¹, Takamitsu Okada^1*, Naohide Takeuchi¹, Satoshi Kawanami², Yukihisa Takayama², Hiroshi Honda³ and Yasuharu Nakashima¹

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

²Department of Molecular Imaging and Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

³Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

^*Corresponding Author: Takamitsu Okada, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, Tel: +81-92-642-5487, Fax: +81-92-642-5507 Email: