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J Knee Surg 2020; 33(11): 1088-1099
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716719
Special Focus Section

Preoperative MRI of Articular Cartilage in the Knee: A Practical Approach

Russell C. Fritz
1   National Orthopaedic Imaging Associates, Greenbrae, California
,
Akshay S. Chaudhari
2   Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
,
Robert D. Boutin 
3   Department of Radiology, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
› Author Affiliations Funding The study has received funding support from National Institutes of Health (NIH); contract grant numbers NIH R01 AR063643, R01 EB002524, K24 AR062068, and P41 EB015891.
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Abstract

Articular cartilage of the knee can be evaluated with high accuracy by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative patients with knee pain, but image quality and reporting are variable. This article discusses the normal MRI appearance of articular cartilage as well as the common MRI abnormalities of knee cartilage that may be considered for operative treatment. This article focuses on a practical approach to preoperative MRI of knee articular cartilage using routine MRI techniques. Current and future directions of knee MRI related to articular cartilage are also discussed.

Keywords

cartilage - knee - MRI

Authors’ Contributions

A. C. has provided consulting services to SkopeMR, Inc., Subtle Medical, Chondrometrics GmbH, Image Analysis Group, Edge Analytics, and Culvert Engineering; and is a shareholder of Subtle Medical, LVIS Corporation, and Brain Key.




Publication History

Received: 02 May 2020

Accepted: 09 August 2020

Article published online:
29 October 2020

Thieme Medical Publishers
333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

 

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