These methods have the potential to be used to probe local changes in tissue microstructure and the hydrodynamic status of cartilage during development of osteoarthritis.
This study provides the first quantitative comparison of DTI of cartilage with the more established PLM techniques. The correlation between alignment angles derived from PLM and DTI data was evident across a wide range of alignment morphologies. The results support the use of DTI for the quantitative measurement of collagen fibre alignment. The microscopic-scale (~10 microm) dispersion of fibre alignment angles appears to be an important factor for understanding the extent of quantitative correlation between PLM and DTI results.
Diffusion tensor imaging can be used to monitor the changes in the direction of the collagen fibres due to compression. It may form the basis of a new non-invasive approach to functional evaluation of cartilage, with potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis.
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