Quantification of the volume of articular cartilage in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand: accuracy and precision of three-dimensional MR imaging.

Abstract

Fat-suppressed T1-weighted 3D MR imaging provides sufficient contrast and spatial resolution to allow accurate and reproducible quantification of articular cartilage volume in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand. This technique may be useful for monitoring cartilage loss in patients with arthritis.