Correlation Between Early MRI Signal Abnormality And Cartilage Morphologic Defect In Osteoarthritis

Objectives:A retrospective study of correlation between early MRI signal abnormalities and cartilage morphology defects in osteoarthritis.Methods:80 subjects(Kellgren-Lawrence score,0–1)(mean age,55 years±8)with morphologic cartilage defects at 3.0-T MR imaging and arthroscopy confirms as research group,without radiographic osteoarthritis were frequency matched for age,sex,(Kellgren-Lawrence score,0)and body mass index with knees in 40 subjects(mean age,54 years ±5)and no other joint lesions as control group.Depending on the cartilage signal abnormaities divided into no abnormal,hypointense,inhomogeneous,hyperintense,and cartilage thickness measurement sites are(MT/LT,MF/LF),comparing thickness before and after.BML was divided into 4grade and was performed correlation analysis with cartilage morphologic defect.Results:Cartilage signal abnormalities were more frequent in research group(P<0.01)Cartilage singnal abnormalities significantly correlated with morphologicl cartilage defect,hypointense was more frequently with defect.Signal distribution and cartilage defect showed good consistency,(P<0.01).BMEP was more frequent in research group,There was a statistically significant difference between 0,no BMEP and 2,BMEP,2,BMEP is more likely to cause cartilage morphologic defects than0,no BMEP,There was no significant difference between the other grades.Pearson analysis showed negative correlations between cartilage signal and cartilage thickness of MT/LT.Conclusion: Knee cartilage signal abnormalities detected with MR imaging are precursors of morphologic defects with osteoarthritis and may serve as imaging biomarkers with which to assess risk for cartilage degeneration.