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Magnetic resonance imaging of osteoarthritis: Correlation with gross pathology using an experimental model
Author(s) -
Sabiston C. Paul,
Adams Mark E.,
Li David K. B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100050203
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , radiography , medicine , osteoarthritis , gross examination , rank correlation , pathological , radiology , nuclear medicine , correlation , soft tissue , pathology , alternative medicine , geometry , mathematics , machine learning , computer science
Conventional radiography has several limitations in the study of osteoarthritis (OA): changes occur late, they are restricted to bone, and they do not correlate well with the patient's symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can visualize with great detail the soft tissue changes in and around joints. We have obtained MR images of knees using an experimental model of OA in order to study the early changes of OA, to correlate the images with the gross patnology, and to compare MR images with radiographs. The changes on MRI correlated with the gross pathological changes as assessed by Kendall's rank correlation test as follows: meniscal changes, τ = 0.58 (p < 0.01); osteophytes, τ = 0.59 (p < 0.05); capsular fibrosis, τ = 0.55 (p < 0.05); and overall, τ = 0.68 (p < 0.001). Abnormalities were evident on MRI as early as 4 weeks after the onset of the disease, which is 8 weeks before they appear on radiographs. Thus, MRI can show changes in OA earlier than radiography can, and the images correlate with the gross pathology.