title: The effect of cartilage degeneration on ultrasound speed in human articular cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effect of cartilage degeneration on ultrasound speed in human articular cartilage in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound speed was calculated by the time-of-flight method for 22 femoral condyle osteochondral blocks obtained from osteoarthritis patients. In parallel, histological evaluation of specimens was performed using the modified Mankin and OARSI scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ultrasound speed was 1757 ± 109 m/s. Ultrasound speed showed significant negative correlation with OARSI score, and a decreasing tendency with high Mankin scores. Good correlation was found between the optically measured and the calculated cartilage thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that articular cartilage degeneration has relatively little influence on ultrasound speed. In addition, morphological evaluation of articular cartilage using a preset value of ultrasound speed seems to offer relatively accurate results.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .|b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Sagamihara Hospital, National Hospital Organization , Sagamihara , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Joint Disease Research , 22nd Century Medical & Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bessho
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sensory & Motor System Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan .
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cartilage degeneration; Cartilage thickness; Osteoarthritis; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound speed