Volume Measurements of the Knee Articular Cartilage and Epiphyseal Bone - Volume Measurements of the Discoid Lateral Meniscus

Sep 29, 2026

Three-dimensional volume assessment of knee structures can clarify structural differences in knees with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), beyond prior studies relying on simple geometric variables. Nineteen MRI scans from 16 DLM patients and 31 scans from 30 non-pathological controls were segmented to reconstruct knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone. Volumes were computed across femoral and tibial compartment grids to compare structural characteristics and identify statistically significant alterations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

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Introduction

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

How to cite this article

Review began 11/20/2025 Review ended 12/01/2025 Published 12/04/2025 © Copyright 2025 Nagawa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CCBY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.98475 Open Access Original Article Volume Measurements ofthe Knee Articular Cartilage and Epiphyseal Bone for Evaluating the Structural Characteristics of the Discoid Lateral Meniscus Keita Nagawa 1, Yuki Hara Kaiji Inoue 1, Eito Kozawa 1, Shinji Kakemoto 1, Hirokazu Shimizu 1 , Saki Tsuchihashi 1, 2, Naoki Sugita 3, 1 1. Radiology, Saitama Medical University Hospital, Saitama, JPN 2. Radiology, Japanese Red Cross Ogawa Hospital, Saitama, JPN 3. Orthopedics, Saitama Medical University Hospital, Saitama, JPN Corresponding author: Keita Nagawa, [ldeso5rbdlayids9taiy@gmail.com](ldeso5rbdlayids9taiy@gmail.com) Abstract Introduction Previous studies have identified morphological features in the bone and cartilage of knees with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), but these investigations often depended on simple geometric variables like anglesand linear dimensions. Three-dimensional (3D) bone and articular cartilage models can be used to obtain the volumes of knee structures. This study aimed to evaluate the volume of articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone in non-pathological knees and those with DLM and to assess their structural differences. Materials and methods This study included 19 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of knees in 16 patients with DLM and 31 MRI scans of non-pathological knees in 30 patients. Knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone segmentation were performed to obtain 3D reconstructed models. Subsequently, the cartilage and bone models were divided into five compartments for the femur (two-row (anterior and posterior) sections for the lateral and medial condyles and one section for the intercondylar region) and six compartments for the tibia (using a three-column (medial, intercondylar, and lateral) × two-row (anterior and posterior) grid), and the volumes of each compartment were calculated. Results The DLM knees had reduced volume in the lateral part of the articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone than those in the control group. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed in the volumes of the lateral tibial cartilage and lateral femoral epiphyseal bone. Conclusions Our study showed that the volume measurements ofthe knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone could facilitate the understanding of the structural differences between knees with DLM and non-pathological knees. The lateral compartment of the articular cartilage and bone is smaller in knees with DLM, and may be distinguishable from non-pathological knees. Categories: Radiology, Anatomy, Orthopedics Keywords: discoid lateral meniscus, epiphyseal bone, knee articular cartilage, three-dimensional magnetic resonance image, volume analysis Introduction The discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is a common anatomic variant of the knee, with a wide, hypertrophic, and discoid-shaped meniscus. DLM typically presents in young populations, with a greater incidence in the Asian population than in other ethnic groups [1,2] . Because DLM is congenital, its morphological and structural characteristics differ from those of a normal meniscus, potentially leading to degeneration and tears [3-5]. Conservative management is preferred when the patient is asymptomatic and the meniscal rim is maintained. If this approach is unsuccessful, meniscal repair with partial or total resection can be performed. The treatment strategy differs from that for a normal meniscus [6,7] . The major radiological findings of DLM include widening of the lateral joint line, cupping of the lateral tibial plateau, squaring of the lateral femoral con

FAQs

What was the primary aim of the study?

To evaluate the volume of knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone in non-pathological knees and in knees with DLM, and to assess structural differences.

How were MRI data processed to measure volumes?

Knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone were segmented from MRI, then reconstructed into 3D models, divided into femoral and tibial compartments, and compartment volumes were calculated.

Which volume differences were observed between DLM and control knees?

DLM knees showed reduced volume in the lateral parts of the articular cartilage and epiphyseal bone, with statistically significant differences in the lateral tibial cartilage and lateral femoral epiphyseal bone.

Sep 29, 2026

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