Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Enables Quantitative Evaluation of Tissue Properties at Intrajoint Regions in Cadaveric Knee Cartilage.

Journal: Cartilage
Published Date: Sep 1, 2016

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether the concentration of the anionic contrast agent ioxaglate, as quantitated by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) using a clinical cone-beam CT (CBCT) instrument, reflects biochemical, histological, and biomechanical characteristics of articular cartilage imaged in an ex vivo, intact human knee joint. Design An osteoarthritic human cadaveric knee joint (91 years old) was injected with ioxaglate (36 mg I/mL) and imaged using CBCT over 61 hours of ioxaglate diffusion into cartilage. Following imaging, the joint surfaces were excised, rinsed to remove contrast agent, and compressive stiffness (equilibrium and instantaneous compressive moduli) was measured via indentation testing ( n = 17 sites). Each site was sectioned for histology and assessed for glycosaminoglycan content using digital densitometry of Safranin-O stained sections, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for collagen content, and morphology using both the Mankin and OARSI semiquantitative scoring systems. Water content was determined using mass change after lyophilization. Results CECT attenuation at all imaging time points, including those <1 hour of ioxaglate exposure, correlated significantly ( P < 0.05) with cartilage water and glycosaminoglycan contents, Mankin score, and both equilibrium and instantaneous compressive moduli. Early time points (<30 minutes) also correlated ( P < 0.05) with collagen content and OARSI score. Differences in cartilage quality between intrajoint regions were distinguishable at diffusion equilibrium and after brief ioxaglate exposure. Conclusions CECT with ioxaglate affords biochemical and biomechanical measurements of cartilage health and performance even after short, clinically relevant exposure times, and may be useful in the clinic as a means for detecting early signs of cartilage pathology.

Authors

  • Rachel C Stewart
    1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
  • Juuso T J Honkanen
    3 Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Harri T Kokkonen
    4 Diagnostic Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Virpi Tiitu
    5 Institute of Biomedicine, Anatomy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Simo Saarakkala
    Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Antti Joukainen
    9 Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Brian D Snyder
    2 Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
  • Jukka S Jurvelin
    3 Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Mark W Grinstaff
    Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry , Boston University , Boston , MA 02215 , USA . Email: mgrin@bu.edu.
  • Juha Töyräs
    3 Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

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