Advances in quantitative in vivo imaging

Abstract

Purpose of review: With the advent of sophisticated imaging systems, such as CT, MRI, ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography (PET), two- and three-dimensional digital information is now available regarding the anatomy and physiology of bone, cartilage, ligament, muscle, and tendon. In this review, we report on the past year's advances and emerging technologies in quantitative imaging of the musculoskeletal system, with specific emphasis on the advances in the use of imaging to study function and pathologic conditions. Recent findings: In the past year, researchers have used MRI and ultrasonography to quantify trabecular bone structure, and they have developed protocols for MR, PET, and PET/CT to aid in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders such as malignant bone tumors and traumatic skeletal lesions. Researchers have also showed that MRI-based measurements of cartilage volume are accurate, and they have developed methods for the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis using MRI. The use of ultrasonography to measure cartilage thickness has also been reported. Finally, other researchers have reported on methods for improved bone segmentation, which may be of use for image-based measurement of wrist and spine motion in vivo. Summary: Novel techniques are being developed to extract quantitative data about the musculoskeletal system from digital medical images. These techniques, and the data they provide, will play a critical role in the process of understanding joint and tissue function and may ultimately be useful diagnosing the onset of osteoarthritis and other pathologic musculoskeletal conditions.