Comparison of Histological and Biochemical Findings with Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Degeneration Severity of Meniscus / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine whether degeneration severities of meniscus assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would well estimate those assessed using histological and biochemical examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven lateral menisci from knees with osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty (study group) and five from normal controls (control group) were examined for this study. Degeneration severities of the menisci were graded using MRI, histologic and biochemical examinations of the menisci were then performed. Comparative analyses of MRI grading and results of histological/biochemical examinations of the menisci were performed in each group. In addition, comparative analyses of histological/biochemical conditions were performed between specimens of the study group and the control group showing grade 0 on MRI. RESULTS: All specimens from the control group showed grade 0 on MRI and their histology was also grade 0. In addition, no significant differences in biochemical results were observed among the specimens of the control group. In the lateral meniscus from the study group showing degeneration on MRI it was found that the water and proteoglycan contents increased with increasing grade of degeneration whereas the collagen content decreased. The meniscus specimens of the control group and the study group showing grade 0 on MRI had similar histologic findings but had different biochemical properties. The grade I, II degenerations on MRI were not well matched with the histologic findings in the study group. CONCLUSION: Severities of meniscus degeneration on MRI did not well reflect the histologic findings of the meniscus. This finding may be due to the water content of the meniscus. The factors of the high signal intensity of the degenerated lateral meniscus on MRI may be due to the decreased component of collagen and increased proteoglycan. Our findings suggested that caution should be taken when the severities of meniscus degeneration on MRI are attributed to histologic severities of degenerated meniscus.