Christine Elizabeth Draper1, Michael
Fredericson1, Thor F. Besier1, Gary S. Beaupre2,
Scott L. Delp1, Andrew Quon1, Garry
1Stanford University, Stanford, CA,
United States; 2VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA,
United States
Articular
cartilage deterioration is associated with the development of
osteoarthritis. Cartilage health
depends upon the integrity of the underlying subchondral bone and there may
be abnormalities in bone metabolic activity that accompany structural defects
in bone and cartilage. 18F NaF PET/CT enables bone metabolic activity to be
visualized. We compared metabolic abnormalities detected using PET/CT with
structural defects seen using MRI. We
found that regions of increased bone metabolic activity do not always
correlate with cartilage damage or bone marrow edema, indicating that 18F NaF
PET/CT may image bone abnormalities prior to the development of structural
damage seen using MRI.