Buckwalter K A
Department of Radiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis 46202-5253.
Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1993 Jul;5(4):503-9. doi: 10.1097/00002281-199305040-00016.
The challenge in imaging joints and articular cartilage is to detect both early and subtle changes that may influence the treatment of osteoarthritis and crystal deposition diseases. Although radiographs show gross changes, they cannot show cartilage surfaces directly. Both ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are able to demonstrate both the surface and internal details of articular cartilage. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging have begun to show internal details of articular cartilage that correspond with histologic zones. These changes can be shown using minor modifications of conventional imaging techniques. More elaborate studies using experimental contrast agents and sodium nuclear magnetic resonance imaging have shown changes in the magnetic resonance signal intensity that appear to correlate with the distribution of proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix. The application of these techniques may be possible in a clinical setting to enhance the detection and monitor the changes of degenerative joint disease.
关节及关节软骨成像面临的挑战在于检测可能影响骨关节炎和晶体沉积疾病治疗的早期细微变化。尽管X线片能显示明显变化，但无法直接显示软骨表面。超声检查和磁共振成像都能够展示关节软骨的表面及内部细节。磁共振成像技术的进步已开始显示出与组织学区域相对应的关节软骨内部细节。通过对传统成像技术进行细微修改即可显示这些变化。使用实验性造影剂和钠磁共振成像进行的更精细研究表明，磁共振信号强度的变化似乎与软骨基质中蛋白聚糖的分布相关。这些技术有可能应用于临床环境，以加强对退行性关节疾病的检测并监测其变化。
