Superb Microvascular Imaging in Low-Grade Inflammation of Knee Osteoarthritis Compared With Power Doppler: Clinical, Radiographic and MRI Relationship

Abstract

We compared the assessment of active synovitis in knee osteoarthritis (OA) by utilising superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and conventional power Doppler (cPD) techniques, and then correlated each technique with paients' symptoms, radiographic features and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected synovitis. A subgroup of participants with symptomatic knee OA underwent dynamic ultrasound assessment for semi-quantitative scores for SMI and cPD in the suprapatellar, medial and lateral parapatellar knee recesses. Knee pain and other symptoms were evaluated with the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). OA severity was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence grade (KLG) on radiog..