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High-Resolution Methods for Diagnosing Cartilage Damage In Vivo
Kira D Novakofski1, Sarah L Pownder2, Matthew F Koff2
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Cartilage
|March 10, 2016
Summary
Early detection of cartilage damage is crucial for preventing osteoarthritis. New imaging techniques show promise for identifying submicrometer injuries missed by current methods, aiding therapeutic studies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Orthopedics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Current clinical imaging like MRI and CT enable early osteoarthritis diagnosis but miss submicrometer cartilage damage.
- Osteoarthritis progression can be mitigated with earlier detection of cartilage injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in clinical and emerging diagnostic modalities for early cartilage injury detection.
- To discuss the potential of these techniques in facilitating interventional therapeutic studies.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical imaging modalities (MRI, CT).
- Exploration of developing in vivo and arthroscopic techniques (OCT, ultrasonography, bioelectricity, electroarthrography, multiphoton microscopy).
Main Results:
- Established modalities detect gross damage, while newer techniques offer submicrometer resolution.
- Emerging methods provide earlier detection but face limitations in penetration depth and joint-wide assessment.
Conclusions:
- Advancements in imaging offer improved early detection of cartilage damage, potentially impacting osteoarthritis management.
- Further development of emerging modalities is needed to overcome limitations and fully assess joint health.
