Magnetic resonance imaging changes in periarticular soft tissues during flares of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis - Preliminary study in 10 patients

Objective. To quantify changes in magnetic resonance imaging signals from t he deep and superficial capsule-ligamentous planes and the medial collatera l ligament in flares of knee osteoarthritis. Patients and Methods. Prelimin ary prospective study of ten patients with medial compartment knee osteoart hritis meeting American College of Rheumatology criteria and associated wit h a Lequesne index of 5 or more. A grid was used to evaluate signal changes as compared to the opposite (asymptomatic) knee. Magnetic resonance images were read independently by two radiologists blinded to clinical data. Resu lts and Discussion. In all ten patients the capsule-ligamentous planes and medial collateral ligament generated low signal on T1 images and high signa l on T2 images. No significant changes were seen in the asymptomatic knee. The evaluation grid produced satisfactory interobserver agreement. Conclusi on. Flares of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis are associated with ch anges in magnetic signal as compared to the contralateral asymptomatic oste oarthritic knee. The grid developed for this study could be used to evaluat e the effects of treatment in a larger number of patients.