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Contrast enhanced CT attenuation correlates with the GAG content of bovine meniscus
Author(s) -
Lakin Bejamin A.,
Grasso Daniel J.,
Stewart Rachel C.,
Freedman Jonathan D.,
Snyder Brian D.,
Grinstaff Mark W.
Publication year - 2013
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.22421
Subject(s) - glycosaminoglycan , meniscus , attenuation , chemistry , ex vivo , in vivo , staining , microbiology and biotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , in vitro , pathology , optics , biochemistry , biology , physics , medicine , incidence (geometry)
We determined whether contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) attenuation obtained using a µCT scanner correlated with the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and distribution in ex vivo bovine menisci. Bovine samples were immersed in different concentrations of the contrast agents CA4+ and Ioxaglate, and the µCT images were compared to Safranin‐O staining. CA4+ and Ioxaglate diffusion‐in kinetics and the correlation between their CECT attenuations and GAG content were investigated. CA4+ and Ioxaglate both reached steady state in the meniscal regions within 95 h, with tau values of 20.6 ± 3.98 and 25.9 ± 3.71 h (mean ± SD), respectively. Both agents diffused preferentially through the proximal and secondarily through the distal surface. The CA4+ CECT attenuation was strongly and positively correlated with the GAG content of the meniscus regions ( R 2 = 0.89, p < 0.001) at low concentrations (12 mgI/ml), while the Ioxaglate CECT attenuation was moderately and negatively correlated with the GAG content ( R 2 = 0.51, p = 0.03) at 60 mgI/ml. CECT can image ex vivo menisci, and the CA4+, compared to Ioxaglate, enhanced attenuation strongly correlates with the GAG content and distribution in bovine meniscus. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1765–1771, 2013