title: Quantitative ultrasound imaging detects degenerative changes in articular cartilage surface and subchondral bone.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested that quantitative ultrasound imaging could sensitively diagnose degeneration of the articular surface and changes in the subchondral bone during the development of osteoarthrosis (OA). We have recently introduced a new parameter, ultrasound roughness index (URI), for the quantification of cartilage surface roughness, and successfully tested it with normal and experimentally degraded articular surfaces. In this in vitro study, the applicability of URI was tested in bovine cartilage samples with spontaneously developed tissue degeneration. Simultaneously, we studied the sensitivity of quantitative ultrasound imaging to detect degenerative changes in the cartilage-bone interface. For reference, histological degenerative grade of the cartilage samples was determined. Mechanical reference measurements were also conducted. Cartilage surface roughness (URI) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in histologically degenerated samples with inferior mechanical properties. Ultrasound reflection at the cartilage-bone interface was also significantly (p<0.05) increased in degenerated samples. Furthermore, it was quantitatively confirmed that ultrasound attenuation in the overlying cartilage significantly affects the measured ultrasound reflection values from the cartilage-bone interface. To conclude, the combined ultrasound measurement of the cartilage surface roughness and ultrasound reflection at the cartilage-bone interface complement each other, and may together enable more sensitive and quantitative diagnosis of early OA or follow up after surgical cartilage repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Etelä-Savo Hospital District, Mikkeli Central Hospital, Porrassalmenkatu 35-37, 50100 Mikkeli, and Department of Physics, University of Kuopio, POB 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland. simo.saarakkala@uku.fi
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarakkala
authors.forename: Mikko S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Laasanen
authors.forename: Jukka S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jurvelin
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Töyräs
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002417:Cattle; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*