Bone scintigraphy in chronic knee pain: comparison with magnetic resonanceimaging

Objective-To compare increased bone uptake of Tc-99(m)-MDP and magnetic res onance (MR) detected subchondral lesions, osteophytes, and cartilage defect s in the knee in middle aged people with longstanding knee pain. Methods-Fifty eight people (aged 41-58 years, mean 50) with chronic knee pa in, with or without radiographic knee osteoarthritis, were examined with bo ne scintigraphy. The pattern and the grade of increased bone uptake was ass essed. On the same day, a MR examination on a 1.0 T imager was performed. T he presence and the grade of subchondral lesions, osteophytes, and cartilag e defects were registered. Results-The kappa values describing the correlation between increased bone uptake and MR detected subchondral lesions varied between 0.79 and 0.49, an d between increased bone uptake and MR detected osteophytes or cartilage de fects the values were <0.54. The kappa values describing the correlation be tween the grade of bone uptake and the grade of the different MR findings w as <0.57. Conclusions-Good agreement was found between increased bone uptake and MR d etected subchondral lesion. The agreement between increased bone uptake and osteophytes or cartilage defects was in general poor as well as the agreem ent between the grade of bone uptake and the grade of the MR findings.