CT scans and arthro-CT scans

The study of the cartilage is relatively easy with modern imaging. If the interpretation of MRI cartilage remains difficult arthro-CT images are easy to obtain. Arthro-CT is much preferable to simple arthrography. These two steps are in fact complementary: the global study of the joint is made with arthrography while the accurate assessment of cartilage is obtained with thin CT native slices acquired in an adapted plane and completed with reformatted images. The detection of small lesions, such as a faint thinning of the cartilage, or a focal fissure is only possible with a long and meticulous examination. The pathological value of the images still depends on the clinical examination, because of the high incidence of asymptomatic chondromalacia in elderly patients. The assessment of the cartilage overlying osteochondritis or osteochondral fractures is of particular clinical interest. The detection of post-traumatic cartilaginous lesions may also be valuable in medicolegal problems.