Imaging, arthroscopy, and markers in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis occurring in humans, but its diagnosis in early stages continues to be elusive. Early diagnosis is of great potential importance because it would allow identification of individuals at risk for progressive disease and permit early intervention. At present, perhaps even more important, the ability to recognize patients with early, often asymptomatic, disease and the ability to monitor disease progression over time would be most useful for the evaluation of new forms of therapy to prevent, halt, or even reverse osteoarthritis. Thus, 1991 has witnessed the continued search for the ideal indicator of early osteoarthritis.