Ces radiol. 2011, 65(1):61-69

Diagnostic imaging of articular cartilage including volumetric measurementsOriginal article

Alena Štouračová¹, Marek Mechl¹, Andrea Šprláková-Puková¹, Daniel Schwarz², Jan Burda³

¹ Radiologická klinika FN Brno, PMDV a LF MU, Brno

² Institut biostatistiky a analýz MU, Brno

³ Ortopedická klinika FN Brno, PMDV a LF MU, Brno

Aim: The work summarizes the diagnostic imaging methods of articular cartilage, including articular cartilage volumetry. Its aim is to measure the volumetric assessment of cartilage volume, depending on age and sex of patients, and the examples femoropatellar joint. Furthermore, a scoring system to assess patella cartilage volumes of patients by age and sex in an MRI.

Method: We included 221 patients, ranging in age from 20-49 years, which was examined the knee on the Philips Achieva 1.5 T. By age were divided into groups of between 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 years, in groups A, B and C. The groups were not included patients with impaired femoropatelar articulation by chondromalatia or osteochondronecrosis etc. Volumetric measurements were performed in the transverse plane of 3D WATSf sekvences using semiautomatic program SienetSky VA60A. Cartilage volume was necessary for statistical treatment based on total volume of the patella. Statistical analysis was performed using parametric tests.

Results: Bestow a statistically significant difference in cartilage volume, depending on age. And also a statistically significant difference between the sexes. Women can be proven significant loss of cartilage tissue than with men.

Conclusion: Volumetry is an easy method to assess the impairment of cartilage, particularly degenerative changes is time-consuming and technically easily feasible. Create a scoring system makes us anticipate the dynamics of particular degenerative changes and their possible therapy.

Keywords: cartilage, magnetic resonance, volumetry

Accepted: February 15, 2011; Published: March 1, 2011  Show citation