Osteoarthritis: current role of imaging

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Radiology and Medical Imaging

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease, impacting aging populations and incurring significant health economic costs.
• Current treatments for OA are limited, with surgery and symptom management offering no definitive cure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic and follow-up roles of various imaging modalities in Osteoarthritis (OA).
• To discuss the application of radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in OA research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Focus on conventional radiography and MRI for OA assessment.
• Inclusion of other imaging techniques such as ultrasound, scintigraphy, and computed tomography (CT).
• Discussion of the utility of these methods in OA diagnosis, patient monitoring, and research settings.

Main Results:

• Conventional radiography is useful for confirming OA diagnosis and identifying late-stage bony changes and joint space narrowing.
• MRI is increasingly preferred for large-scale research and shows potential for personalized OA treatment planning.
• Other modalities like ultrasound, scintigraphy, and CT offer complementary information for OA evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Radiography and MRI are key imaging modalities for Osteoarthritis diagnosis and management.
• Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for research and the development of individualized OA treatment strategies.
• A comprehensive understanding of various imaging modalities aids in effective OA patient care and research advancement.