Analysis of patellar cartilage. Comparison of conventional MR imaging and MR and CT arthrography in cadavers.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitivity of conventional MR sequences, MR arthrography, and CT arthrography for the detection of cartilage lesions of the patella in cadavers.


METHODS
Cartilage lesions in 10 cadaveric specimens were evaluated by MR imaging, including T1-weighted, proton density-weighted and T2-weighted sequences, and fat-suppressed spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR), MR arthrography including T1-weighted and SPGR sequences, and double-contrast CT arthrography including conventional and subtracted images. The sensitivities with regard to detection of lesions were compared to results from morphologic and histologic investigations of sectioned specimens.


RESULTS
Twenty-one lesions were detected morphologically. For the detection of these lesions, sensitivities were as follows: T1-weighted images 33.3%; proton density-weighted images 85.7%; T2-weighted images 85.7%; SPGR images 80.9%; MR arthrography with T1-SE sequences 57.1%; MR arthrography with SPGR sequence 90.5%; and CT arthrography, both regular and subtracted images 85.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
For noninvasive techniques, T2-weighted images revealed the highest sensitivity for the detection of patellar cartilage lesions, which was surpassed only by MR arthrography using the SPGR sequence. CT arthrography delineated surface irregularities but failed to demonstrate intrachondral lesions.
Rand
T
T
Department of Radiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
Brossmann
J
J
Pedowitz
R
R
Ahn
J M
JM
Haghigi
P
P
Resnick
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001175:Arthrography; D002102:Cadaver; D002356:Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media