Quantitative MR imaging evaluation of chondropathy in osteoarthritic knees

• Published in: Radiology Vol. 208; no. 1; p. 49
• Main Authors: Drapé, J L, Pessis, E, Auleley, G R, Chevrot, A, Dougados, M, Ayral, X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-1998
• Subjects: Aged; Arthroscopy; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Feasibility Studies; Female; Femur - pathology; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Knee Joint - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Menisci, Tibial - pathology; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Osteoarthritis - classification; Osteoarthritis - pathology; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Single-Blind Method; Tibia - pathology
• ISSN: 0033-8419
• DOI: 10.1148/radiology.208.1.9646792

To determine the validity and the reliability of T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for quantification of articular cartilage abnormalities of osteoarthritic knees.
Forty-three patients (mean age, 63 years) with knee osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria) of the medial tibiofemoral compartment underwent a prospective, cross-sectional study. Knees were examined with a T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence (1.4-mm contiguous sections), with use of a 0.2-T dedicated MR unit, before arthroscopic exploration. The tibiofemoral articular cartilage abnormalities were quantified blindly on both the MR and arthroscopic images with the French Society of Arthroscopy (SFA) score (0-100) and grading scheme (five grades).
There was a statistically significant correlation between the SFA-arthroscopic score and the SFA-MR score (r = .83) and between the SFA-arthroscopic grade and the SFA-MR grade (weighted kappa = 0.84). The deepest cartilage lesions graded with arthroscopy and MR imaging showed correlation in the medial femoral condyle (weighted kappa = 0.83) and in the medial tibial plateau (weighted kappa = 0.84). The intraobserver reliability of the SFA-MR score was higher (r = .94) than the interobserver reliability (r = .80).
Quantification of chondropathy with MR imaging is feasible and well correlated with anatomic cartilage breakdown.