Imaging of Cartilage in the Athlete

Since the development of radiography, we have been able to visualize the osseous alterations related to arthritis. These include productive changes, such as osteophyte formation, sclerosis, and buttressing, as well as erosive changes and subchondral cyst formation. However, because cartilage is radiolucent, it is not directly visible by either radiography or computed tomography. With careful attention to technique, both hyaline and fibrocartilage can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging.