MRI of articular cartilage: revisiting current status and future directions

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of the MRI appearance of articular cartilage and its relationship to the microscopic and macroscopic structure of articular cartilage, the optimal pulse sequences to be used in imaging, the appearance of both degenerative and traumatic chondral lesions, the appearance of the most common cartilage repair procedures, and future directions and developments in cartilage imaging. CONCLUSION: Articular cartilage plays an essential role in the function of the diarthrodial joints of the body but is frequently the target of degeneration or traumatic injury. The recent development of several surgical procedures that hold the promise of forming repair tissue that is hyaline or hyalinelike cartilage has increased the need for accurate, noninvasive assessment of both native articular cartilage and postoperative repair tissue. MRI is the optimal noninvasive method for assessment of articular cartilage.