Nischal Neha, Iyengar Karthikeyan P, Herlekar Deepak, Botchu Rajesh
Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Birmingham B31 2AP, UK.
Department of Radiology, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi 110025, India.
Life (Basel). 2023 Jan 28;13(2):363. doi: 10.3390/life13020363.
A healthy articular cartilage is paramount to joint function. Cartilage defects, whether acute or chronic, are a significant source of morbidity. This review summarizes various imaging modalities used for cartilage assessment. While radiographs are insensitive, they are still widely used to indirectly assess cartilage. Ultrasound has shown promise in the detection of cartilage defects, but its efficacy is limited in many joints due to inadequate visualization. CT arthrography has the potential to assess internal derangements of joints along with cartilage, especially in patients with contraindications to MRI. MRI remains the favored imaging modality to assess cartilage. The conventional imaging techniques are able to assess cartilage abnormalities when cartilage is already damaged. The newer imaging techniques are thus targeted at detecting biochemical and structural changes in cartilage before an actual visible irreversible loss. These include, but are not limited to, T2 and T2* mapping, dGEMRI, T1ρ imaging, gagCEST imaging, sodium MRI and integrated PET with MRI. A brief discussion of the advances in the surgical management of cartilage defects and post-operative imaging assessment is also included.
健康的关节软骨对关节功能至关重要。软骨缺损，无论是急性还是慢性的，都是发病的重要原因。本综述总结了用于软骨评估的各种成像方式。虽然X线片不敏感，但仍广泛用于间接评估软骨。超声在检测软骨缺损方面显示出前景，但由于可视化不足，其在许多关节中的效果有限。CT关节造影有潜力评估关节内部紊乱以及软骨情况，尤其是在有MRI禁忌证的患者中。MRI仍然是评估软骨最受欢迎的成像方式。传统成像技术能够在软骨已经受损时评估软骨异常。因此，更新的成像技术旨在在实际可见的不可逆损失之前检测软骨的生化和结构变化。这些技术包括但不限于T2和T2*映射、双对比增强MRI（dGEMRI）、T1ρ成像、糖化学交换饱和转移（gagCEST）成像、钠MRI以及PET与MRI的联合成像。本文还简要讨论了软骨缺损手术治疗的进展以及术后成像评估。
