Advances in molecular imaging for osteoarthritis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Imaging
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of global disability with no current cure.
• Conventional imaging lacks sensitivity for early OA molecular changes.
• Early detection of OA is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in OA diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
• To highlight advancements in PET radiotracers for OA.
• To identify future research directions for PET in OA.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on PET imaging in osteoarthritis.
• Discussion of established PET tracers ([18F]-FDG, [18F]-NaF) and novel radiotracers (TSPO, FAPI).
• Analysis of PET's ability to detect molecular and cellular changes in OA.

Main Results:

• Current PET tracers ([18F]-FDG, [18F]-NaF) show limitations in specificity for OA.
• Novel tracers targeting specific cells (TSPO, FAPI) show potential for characterizing OA inflammation.
• PET imaging can visualize early metabolic, inflammatory, and cellular alterations in OA.

Conclusions:

• PET imaging holds significant promise for transforming OA diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring.
• Further development and validation of specific PET tracers are needed.
• Incorporating PET into longitudinal and interventional studies is essential for advancing OA research and clinical practice.