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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2004; 08(4): 329-353
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-861579
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA.

Measuring Cartilage Morphology with Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Felix Eckstein1 , 2 , Christian Glaser3
  • 1Institute of Anatomy and Musculoskeletal Research, Paracelsus Private Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
  • 2Chondrometrics GmbH, Ainring, Germany
  • 3Institute of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
10 January 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a three-dimensional imaging technique with unparalleled ability to delineate articular cartilage morphology in health and disease. In this article we will review work on the assessment of cartilage morphology with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging and its relevance to the study of cartilage anatomy, physiology, deformation, disease status, disease progression, and response to treatment. The review outlines available pulse sequences and techniques for segmentation and morphological analysis of cartilage morphology. It addresses the accuracy (validity) and precision (reproducibility) of these techniques and summarizes studies on cartilage deformation in intact joints. This article will also review work on determinants and functional adaptation of cartilage morphology and describe changes seen in osteoarthritis. We conclude that fat-suppressed or water excitation gradient-echo magnetic resonance sequences and state-of-the-art digital image analysis techniques display high accuracy and adequate precision for quantitative assessment of cartilage morphology. This renders these techniques powerful and promising tools for cartilage and osteoarthritis research.

KEYWORDS

Cartilage - morphology - magnetic resonance imaging - osteoarthritis

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 Unv. Prof. Dr. med.
Felix Eckstein

Institute of Anatomy and Musculoskeletal Research, Paracelsus Private Medical University Salzburg

Strubergasse 21k, A 5020 Salzburg, Austria

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