Non-Cartilage Changes Visualized by MRI and Risk for OA Development/Progression
Michel D. Crema
Non-cartilaginous tissues that may be affected in osteoarthritis (OA) include the subchondral bone, synovium, fibrocartilage, ligaments and muscles. Due to its capability to visualize pathology in different tissues with excellent contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high-resolution and multiplanar assessment of the bone and soft tissues mentioned above. MRI-detected changes in these structures were evaluated in previous studies as factors for OA development and/or progression, especially in the knee joint. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs), meniscal damage, meniscal extrusion, and cruciate ligament injury were shown to predict development and/or progression of structural damage in knee OA, and MRI is to date the best imaging modality to assess pathology in these structures. This presentation reviews the role of non-cartilage structures, as well as pathology in these structures, in the development and/or progression of OA, focusing in the knee joint, based on the evidence in the literature