Diagnostic value of biplanar ultrasonographic assessment in detecting degenerative changes in femoral articular cartilage

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic value of biplanar ultrasonography in detecting degenerative changes of femoral articular cartilage using magnetic resonance imaging as the reference method. Material and Methods: Femoral articular cartilage examination was performed with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in 40 patients with knee pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the knees were carried out on a 1.5 T scanner with proton density weighted, fat suppressed sequence in three orthogonal planes. Ultrasonographic evaluations of the knees were performed in both longitudinal and transverse planes. Taking the findings of magnetic resonance imaging as a reference, the diagnostic effectiveness of biplanar US in detecting medial condylar, lateral condylar and intercondylar notch cartilage lesions were calculated. Results: The sensitivity of biplanar ultrasonography in detecting medial condylar, lateral condylar, and intercondylar notch cartilage lesions were 93.55%, 61.11%, and 53.85%, respectively. The specificity of the technique in detecting the lesions in these locations were 88.89%, 90.91%, and 100.00%, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a relatively inexpensive, easily accessible and a non-invasive imaging tool. We found that biplanar ultrasonography is a reliable method in detecting medial condylar cartilage lesions in knee osteoarthritis, and we recommend using it for the purposes of screening and follow-up evaluation of medial type knee osteoarthritis where MRI is not accessible