Adams M E, Wallace C J
Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1991 Jun;20(6 Suppl 2):26-39. doi: 10.1016/0049-0172(91)90025-u.
Plain-film radiography currently remains the mainstay of imaging for diagnosis and follow-up in osteoarthritis (OA). However, recent studies have questioned some aspects of its use, particularly the correlation between radiographically evident joint-space narrowing and articular cartilage loss. The results with imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound suggest that these methods will allow accurate noninvasive definition of the structure of articular cartilage and other soft tissues of joints. Other modalities, including microfocal radiography and high-resolution computed tomography, can produce detailed images of trabecular structure and bony alterations in osteoarthritis. Improvements in image analysis and data manipulation, including three-dimensional reconstruction and digitized storage and measurement of images, will likely enable improved quantitative assessment of the abnormalities demonstrated by these techniques. One can hope that such developments will facilitate not only improved detection and definition of OA, but also better evaluation of the effectiveness of pharmacological and physical therapy in practice and in clinical trials.
目前，X线平片仍然是骨关节炎（OA）诊断及随访影像学检查的主要手段。然而，近期研究对其应用的某些方面提出了质疑，尤其是影像学上明显的关节间隙变窄与关节软骨丢失之间的相关性。磁共振成像和超声等成像方式的结果表明，这些方法将能够准确地对关节软骨及其他软组织的结构进行无创性界定。其他方式，包括微焦点X线摄影和高分辨率计算机断层扫描，能够生成骨关节炎中骨小梁结构和骨质改变的详细图像。图像分析和数据处理方面的进展，包括三维重建以及图像的数字化存储和测量，可能会使这些技术所显示的异常情况得到更好的定量评估。人们希望这些进展不仅有助于更好地检测和界定骨关节炎，还能在实际应用和临床试验中更好地评估药物治疗和物理治疗的效果。
