Contrast solution properties and scan parameters influence the apparent diffusivity of computed tomography contrast agents in articular cartilage.

ABSTRACT: The inability to detect early degenerative changes to the articular cartilage surface that commonly precede bulk osteoarthritic degradation is an obstacle to early disease detection for research or clinical diagnosis. Leveraging a known artefact that blurs tissue boundaries in clinical arthrograms, contrast agent (CA) diffusivity can be derived from computed tomography arthrography (CTa) scans. We combined experimental and computational approaches to study protocol variations that may alter the CTa-derived apparent diffusivity. In experimental studies on bovine cartilage explants, we examined how CA dilution and transport direction (absorption versus desorption) influence the apparent diffusivity of untreated and enzymatically digested cartilage. Using multiphysics simulations, we examined

SUBMITTER: Hall ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9346352 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature