Quantitative cartilage imaging of the human hind foot: precision and inter-subject variability

Alterations of ankle cartilage are observed in degenerative and inflammatory joint disease, but cartilage cannot be directly visualized by radiography. The purpose of this study was therefore to analyze the feasibility and precision of quantitative cartilage imaging in the human hind foot (talocrural, talotarsal, and intertarsal joints), and to report the inter-subject variability for cartilage volume, thickness and surface areas. The feet of 16 healthy volunteers were imaged using a 3D gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging sequence with water-excitation. After interpolation to a resolution of 1 x 0.125 x 0.125 mm3 the cartilage plates were segmented, and the cartilage volume, thickness, and surface areas determined. The precision (four repeated measurements) was examined in eight volunteers, the RMS average CV% being 2.1% to 10.9% in single joint surfaces, and < or = 3% for the cumulative values of all joints. The mean cartilage thickness ranged from 0.57+/-0.08 (navicular surface) to 0.89+/-0.19 mm (trochlear surface for tibia). In conclusion this study shows that it is feasible to quantify thin cartilage layers in the hind foot under in vivo imaging conditions, and that the precision errors are substantially smaller than the inter-subject variability in healthy subjects.