Page 79 - Imaging of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hand Joints

Accuracy of cartilage MRI of CMC1; comparison with histology
Our MRI scoring method worked for a low number of patients, but is too time consuming for larger studies. We chose this method to be as accurate as possible, but would not advice it for use in larger studies; instead, either automated segmentation for detailed detection of cartilage damage or a semi- quantitative score would probably be better.
Conclusion
3D SPGR MRI of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is able to detect the overall extent of cartilage damage. However, in severe cartilage damage, a layer of high signal intensity on the bone can be seen on 3D SPGR MRI, which does not always correspond to cartilage on histology, and could therefore lead to overestimation of the remaining cartilage.
Funding 4 This study was funded by an internal Erasmus MC grant, aimed at promoting cooperation of multiple internal research departments. The funding source
had no active role in the study.
Author contributions
MS contributed to the design, collected the MRI data, scored the histology, performed the analysis and drafted the manuscript. HC contributed to the design, provided part of the patients, scored MRI data, and revised the manuscript. RS, JvN and JL obtained the funding, conceived the study, helped with design, and revised the manuscript. JJ provided most of the patients and revised the manuscript. GvO contributed to design, scored the histology, and critically revised the manuscript. EO scored MRI data, and critically revised the manuscript. GM contributed to design, scored MRI data, helped with interpretation of data and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank participating hand surgeons prof. S.E.R. Hovius, dr. E.T. Walbeehm and dr. C.A. van Nieuwenhoven for their effort during surgery to keep the trapezium intact; Nicole Kops of the department of orthopaedics for preparing the histological sections; prof. J.M.W. Hazes, chair of the department of rheumatology, for her part in acquiring funding; and prof G.P. Krestin, chair of the department of radiology, for use of the departments MRI facilities.
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