The knee is a diarthrodial joint formed by two joint surfaces: the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral surfaces. The medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments, together with the patellofemoral joint, form the three compartment of the knee, and these are covered by hyaline articular cartilage. Hyaline articular cartilage is a kind of dense conjunctive tissue consisting of cells, water and matrix. The normal hyaline cartilage is well-structured and elastic, with a smooth surface and its functions to protect the subchondral bone, allow the articular surfaces to slide across each other without friction and absorb impact. Damage of the articular cartilage is considered to be the hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA), even if other factors are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease (1). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common progressive multifactorial joint disease and is characterized by chronic pain and functional disability. Knee OA accounts for almost four fifths of the burden of OA worldwide and increases with obesity and age (2). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is often initially evaluated by plain x ray (AP, LAT) views which its useful technique for early diagnosis of OA whoever it is still limited imaging tool for detection of more findings as the disease progress including articular cartilage defect. Ultrasound is extremely sensitive for identifying synovial cysts that sometimes form in people with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound is excellent for evaluating the ligaments and tendons around the joint, which can be stretched or torn because of osteoarthritis and other advantages of ultrasound include its easy availability and multiplanar capability, as well as economic advantages but it has multiple disadvantages including that it is not suitable for evaluation the progression of OA (3). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide the most comprehensive assessment of OA with the advantages of being noninvasive and multiplanar with excellent soft tissue contrast. However, MRI is expensive, time consuming, and not widely used for monitoring OA clinically. (3) MSCT can also be used to evaluate OA as can get an isotropic sub-millimeter spatial resolution with improved longitudinal resolution, The examination time is substantially reduced with decreased motion artifact, The cost is relatively lower than MRA in most countries(4) ,also useful in providing guidance for therapeutic and diagnostic procedure, even patients with metallic devices or implants, who are poorly indicated for MRA, can undergo the procedure, and we can easily estimate the lesion in the vicinity of metal without artifacts , but CTA may have some limitations in the evaluation of soft tissues and these are also invasive and require radiation exposure.(5) Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and multi slice CT arthrography (MSCTA) of the knee are considered the best-performing imaging techniques in diagnosing knee osteo arthritis if prospectively compared with arthroscopic findings. These two imaging procedures are definitely better than plain CT or MRI of the knee because of the contrast resolution due to the presence of intraarticular diluted paramagnetic contrast or iodinated agent, respectively, and to the distension of the joint capsule. The evaluation of site, type, grade, and extent of the disease is more reliable. The two techniques give different information due to a higher CT sensitivity for calcifications and bone injuries and an optimal MR contrast resolution for soft tissue abnormalities (3) The combined use of iodinated contrast material for fluoroscopic confirmation of the articular position of the needle before injection of gadolinium chelates for MR arthrography offers the unique opportunity to compare CTA and MRA findings in carefully selected cases(6) Gadopentetate dimeglumine and iodinated contrast material can be mixed before MR imaging without any release of free gadolinium and are therefore safe for confirming the intraarticular placement of contrast material before MR arthrography (6)
The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic efficacy of conventional MRI, MR arthrography and MDCT arthrography in the detection and grading of chondral lesions of the osteoarthritic knee with arthroscopic correlation