[Evaluation of experimental cartilage lesions with ultrahigh-resolution multi-slice-CT in comparison to histology].
OBJECTIVE
Histologic validation of ultrahigh-resolution multi-slice (MS)-CT for the evaluation of focal, experimental cartilage lesions with special regard to the subchondral bone. Testing of micro-CT ( micro CT) as alternative reference standard.


METHODS
32 experimental cartilage lesions in bovine patellae were imaged surrounded by air (MS-CT-air) and immersed in a contrast material solution (MS-CT-CM) with MS-CT (collimation 2 x 0,5 mm). After the micro CT (8 micro m-voxelsite) examination in three specimen and histologic work-up of 29 specimen two radiologist graded the defects on MS-CT images in consensus (subchondral bone involvement yes or no) and results were compared to the results of histomorphometry and micro CT.


RESULTS
The MS-CT-air and -CM had an accuracy of 94 % (30/32) and 88 % (28/32), respectively. MS-CT-air led to one false-positive (remaining cartilage: = 0,1 mm) and false-negative result, each. MS-CT-CM showed false-positive results if the remaining cartilage was < 0,3 mm thick (n = 4), i. e. showed subchondral bone involvement. Contrast-to-noise ratio was significantly higher in MS-CT-air compared to MS-CT-CM. micro CT yielded a clear depiction of cartilage defect depth in the three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
MS-CT-air has a high accuracy in the depiction of focal cartilage defects. MS-CT-CM has a tendency to overestimate cartilage defect depth. micro CT could potentially serve as alternative reference standard to histology.
Stork
A
A
Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie. astork@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Kemper
J
J
Priemel
M
M
Kummer
T
T
Begemann
P G
PG
Habermann
C R
CR
Amling
M
M
Adam
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D003287:Contrast Media; D006652:Histological Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010329:Patella; D012015:Reference Standards; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media