Abnormalities identified in the knees of asymptomatic volunteers using peripheral magnetic resonance imaging1

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2004.11.001Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Summary

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of bone and soft tissue abnormalities in asymptomatic knees using peripheral magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) and to examine the relationship between these abnormalities and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) graded X-rays.

Method

Volunteers (20–68 years) with no history of knee pain, injury or bone or joint disease were recruited. Individuals underwent a single MRI scan and radiograph of their non-dominant knee. pMR images were acquired in sagittal plane using a 3-D gradient-echo protocol. Two radiologists graded the presence and severity of cartilage degeneration, osteophytosis, meniscal and ligamentous abnormalities, bone marrow edema and subchondral cysts. X-rays were acquired using a fixed-flexion technique and graded using the K-L scale.

Results

Forty-four individuals, mean age (SD) 41.1 (14.2) years, participated. K-L grading of X-rays revealed 29 individuals were grade 0, 12 were grade 1 and 3 were grade 2. Five individuals showed evidence of cartilage lesions, the femoral trochlea, medial femur and patella being those regions most commonly affected. Twelve individuals (27.3%) showed evidence of osteophytosis, nine of whom did not show evidence on X-ray. Forty-three individuals showed evidence of at least one meniscal abnormality while 27 individuals (61.4%) had abnormalities in at least three of the four regions of the knee.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that osteophytes may be more prevalent in this population than radiographic data suggests due to the limitations of two-dimensional imaging. Meniscal degeneration or tears, a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, are highly prevalent in asymptomatic individuals with the medial anterior and posterior horns being the most commonly affected regions.

Key words

Magnetic resonance imaging
Asymptomatic knee
Cartilage defect
Meniscal abnormality

Cited by (0)

1

Institution: McMaster University is the institution to which this work should be attributed.

Grants/Support: Karen Beattie is a Ph.D. candidate at McMaster University. Her research is funded by a joint grant from the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Canada, Inc.

Dr Pauline Boulos' Research Fellowship is supported by a combined grant from the Arthritis Society/Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The peripheral MRI system is a resource of the McMaster Institute for Applied Radiation Sciences (McIARS).