Imaging Techniques of Articular Cartilage

Chondral knee lesions are frequent and produce important functional limitations and arthrosis development. The imaging techniques, conventional radiography (X-ray) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may become useful for the evaluating articular cartilage defects of the knee. MRI is the best tool for the diagnosis of chondral defects and further surgical planning. X-ray is the initial radiological study in most suspected knee disorders. It is widely used in evaluating the long-term progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and is able clearly to depict the established hallmarks of OA, namely joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst formation, and osteophytosis. X-ray is limited, however, by its inability directly to visualise articular cartilage.MRI is an effective, non-invasive, and reproducible technique, allowing us to assess the articular cartilage defects and repair them. MRI also allows the morphological assessment of the articular surface, as well as its internal structure, thickness, volume and the subchondral bone characteristics.