T2 mapping of cartilage in the equine distal interphalangeal joint with corresponding histology using 0.27 T and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging.

A T2 mapping sequence on a low-field 0.27 T MR system was validated. There was a positive correlation between low- and high-field T2 measurements. The findings suggest a higher mean T2 relaxation time in pathological cartilage tissue examined in this study compared to normal equine cartilage tissue.