Cartilage Injury: Update on Diagnosis and Image-guided Therapy

Cartilage injury is a prevalent source of pain and disability, often progressing to osteoarthritis if untreated. MR imaging represents the reference standard for comprehensive cartilage evaluation, combining high-resolution morphologic sequences with advanced quantitative techniques that reveal early biochemical changes. This review summarizes the anatomic organization of the osteochondral unit, current MR imaging methods for detection and grading of cartilage lesions, and key classification systems correlating imaging and arthroscopic findings. It discusses the role of image-guided intra-articular therapies and postoperative MR imaging evaluation, emphasizing the expanding potential of functional and artificial intelligence-enhanced MR imaging in diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome monitoring.