Analysis of Three-Dimensional Computerized Representations of Articular Cartilage Lesions

摘要

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESThe authors assess the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) computer representations based on magnetic resonance images of articular cartilage lesions, using actual cartilage lesions as reference standards.METHODSGrade 2 and grade 3 articular lesions were created on articular surfaces of five porcine knee joints. The knees were then imaged using 3D fat-suppressed SPGR acquisition at four different slice thicknesses. Magnetic resonance imaging data sets were transferred to a computer workstation for image processing and 3D reconstruction. Lesion dimensions (length, width, and depth) based on the 3D reconstructed image were compared with the dimensions measured using actual lesions.RESULTSThe average percent error of lesion length, width, and depth based on the 3D images ranged from approximately 8 to 12 when using the thinnest magnetic resonance slice thickness (0.7 mm).CONCLUSIONSThree-dimensional reconstructed images derived from thin-slice magnetic resonance imaging can provide reasonable representations of true articular cartilage lesion dimensions.