Maximum standardised uptake value of quantitative bone SPECT/CT in patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee

Aim To evaluate the correlation between the maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) from bone single-photon-emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and other imaging parameters for medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Materials and methods Patients ( n =26; male:female=2:24; age, 55.3±5.8 years) underwent quantitative knee SPECT/CT using technetium-99m (Tc-99m) hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HDP) before surgical operation for medial OA of the knee. SUVmax was calculated using dedicated quantitative software. Visual grades of tracer uptake on bone SPECT/CT and Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) OA scores on plain radiographs were assessed using a five-point scale. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores ( n =22) and patient symptom scores were also assessed. Results The operated knees ( n =34) had a greater SUVmax than the non-operated knees ( n =18) in the medial compartment (14.1±6.1 versus 5.3±4.4, p p p p ≤0.0002); however, SUVmax and other imaging parameters were not correlated with patient symptom scores ( p >0.05). Conclusions The SUVmax of quantitative bone SPECT/CT was highly correlated with traditional imaging parameters for medial compartment OA severity of the knee. Quantitative bone SPECT/CT is a promising imaging technique for the objective assessment of knee OA.