Articular cartilage mapping through novel advances in MRI techniques

Abstract

Articular cartilage is one of the most essential tissues for healthy joint function, cartilage has obvious and fundamental roles in joint function and body movement, it is a type of fine connective tissue composed of a complex mesh of collagenous fibers, water and proteoglycans. There are many diagnostic imaging methods for evaluation of the articular cartilage. Conventional radiography has been used to detect secondary gross changes of the joint cartilage, manifested by the narrowing of the joint space distance, and allows visualization of secondary changes, such as osteophyte formation, but this imaging method only allows detection of later stage of the disease when changes are already irreversible. It does not allow direct visualization of the cartilage. Conventional or computed tomography arthrography has also been used to evaluate surface irregularities of the cartilage; however, it is