Visualization by magnetic resonance imaging of focal cartilage lesions in the excised mini‐pig knee

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Abstract
This study showed that magnetic resonance imaging can be used to visualize partial thickness cartilage lesions, 0.7 × 10 mm in area and 0.5 mm in depth, surgically induced in the femur (femoropatellar compartment) of a mini‐pig knee joint. Formalin‐fixed joints, intact as well as disarticulated, were studied by high resolution imaging using a 2.35 T, 31 cm horizontal‐bore superconducting magnet. The two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional spatial resolutions achievable were as follows: 0.12 × 0.23 mm (two‐dimensional) and 0.35 × 0.35 × 0.35 mm (three‐dimensional) for the intact joint, and 0.08 × 0.08 mm (two‐dimensional) and 0.14 × 0.14 × 0.27 mm (three‐dimensional) for the disarticulated joint. These results demonstrate that magnetic resonance imaging, together with edge detection and volume rendering, can be used to visualize focal cartilage lesions.