Hye Jin Yoo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sung Hwan Hong, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ja-Young Choi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ji Young Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Su Jin Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jung-Ah Choi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Heung Sik Kang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the diagnostic potential of iodine based contrast-enhanced computed tomography of articular cartilage (CECTAC) in quantification of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in normal and degenerated articular cartilage in situ by using a clinical CT scanner

Forty intact porcine patellae were extracted and assigned to either control(n=20) or typsinized group, i.e. GAG-depleted group(n=20). Ten patellae in each group were immersed in anionic iodine-based contrast agent(Ioxaglate, 40%) and the other ten in neutral iodine-based contrast agent(Iopromide, 35%) for 2 hours. Thus, four sets of 10 patellae each were prepared as follows: 1) normal cartilages in Ioxaglate; 2) normal cartilages in Iopromide; 3) GAG-depleted cartilages in Ioxaglate; and 4) GAG-depleted cartilages in Iopromide. To determine the contrast agent concentration within cartilage, samples were scanned with a multidetector CT scanner immediately after the immersion time and the X-ray attenuation of cartilage was measured. CT images were compared to safranin-O stained histologic section and actual GAG contents determined with a dimethymethylene blue assay.

Ioxaglate was taken up by GAG-depleted cartilage, to a greater extent than normal cartilage(P=0.01). By contrast, the penetration of iopromide was not significantly different between GAG-depleted and normal cartilage(P=0.1). The loss of GAGs in trypsinized cartilage was confirmed microscopically using Safranin-O-stained sections and a dimetylmethylene assay revealed a significant inverse relationship between X-ray attenuation and GAGs contents

In the present study, CECTAC was applied for the quantitative evaluation of GAG contents in cartilage with a clinical CT scanner. This study showed that there is a strong association between GAG contents and concentration of anionic iodine contrast agent penetrated in cartilage

Our results show the feasibility and validity of CECTAC in the physiologic cartilage imaging with a clinical CT scanner

Yoo, H, Hong, S, Choi, J, Kim, J, Kim, S, Choi, J, Kang, H, Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography of Articular Cartilage: Experimental Study for Quantification of Glycosaminoglycan Contents in Articular Cartilage.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9011081.html