A study on evaluation of knee osteoarthritis with MRI and comparing it with CT scan, high resolution USG and conventional radiography

Background: Knee osteo-arthritis is widely prevalent in the elderly population in our society and associated with significant morbidity and poor quality of life. Early diagnosis of the condition can enable timely and proper care for the patients. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CT Scan, Ultrasonography and plain radiography are the different modalities of imaging that are commonly used for detection and diagnosis of knee osteo-arthritis. Aims and Objectives: To find out the early osteoarthritic changes of knee by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and compare those findings with conventional radiography, high frequency USG and CT scan findings. Materials and Methods: Patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA) as per American College of Rheumatology guideline criteria (n=56) underwent imaging of the knee using plain radiography, ultrasonography, CT scan and MRI. The imaging findings studied in the patients were joint space narrowing (JSN), meniscal abnormality, Baker’s cyst, cruciate ligament abnormality, knee effusion, subchondral cyst, and loose bodies. A comparison between radiography, CT scan and USG was done for the imaging findings with MRI as the reference standard. Z-test of proportionality was used to find statistically significant difference for the three imaging modalities. A P