Triple contrast CT method enables simultaneous evaluation of articular cartilage composition and segmentation
Date
2020-02
Authors
Honkanen, Miitu K.M.
Saukko, Annina E.A.
Turunen, Mikael J.
Xu, Wujun
Lovric, Goran
Honkanen, Juuso T.J.
Grinstaff, Mark W.
Lehto, Vesa-Pekka
Töyräs, Juha
Version
Published version
OA Version
Citation
Miitu KM Honkanen, Annina EA Saukko, Mikael J Turunen, Wujun Xu, Goran Lovric, Juuso TJ Honkanen, Mark W Grinstaff, Vesa-Pekka Lehto, Juha Töyräs. 2020. "Triple Contrast CT Method Enables Simultaneous Evaluation of Articular Cartilage Composition and Segmentation.." Ann Biomed Eng, Volume 48, Issue 2, pp. 556 - 567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02362-6
Abstract
Early degenerative changes of articular cartilage are detected using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with a cationic contrast agent (CA). However, cationic CA diffusion into degenerated cartilage decreases with proteoglycan depletion and increases with elevated water content, thus hampering tissue evaluation at early diffusion time points. Furthermore, the contrast at synovial fluid-cartilage interface diminishes as a function of diffusion time hindering accurate cartilage segmentation. For the first time, we employ quantitative dual-energy CT (QDECT) imaging utilizing a mixture of three CAs (cationic CA4+ and non-ionic gadoteridol which are sensitive to proteoglycan and water contents, respectively, and bismuth nanoparticles which highlight the cartilage surface) to simultaneously segment the articulating surfaces and determine of the cartilage condition. Intact healthy, proteoglycan-depleted, and mechanically injured bovine cartilage samples (n = 27) were halved and imaged with synchrotron microCT 2-h post immersion in triple CA or in dual CA (CA4+ and gadoteridol). CA4+ and gadoteridol partitions were determined using QDECT, and pairwise evaluation of these partitions was conducted for samples immersed in dual and triple CAs. In conclusion, the triple CA method is sensitive to proteoglycan depletion while maintaining sufficient contrast at the articular surface to enable detection of cartilage lesions caused by mechanical impact.
Description
License
"Copyright 2019 The Author(s). Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made."