Patellar Metabolic and Compositional Markers from 18NaF PET/MRI are associated with Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scores and OA-status

Motivation: Quantitative markers of bone-remodeling and cartilage-composition from 18NaF-PET-MRI can help understand their manifestation in morphological degradation in various subgroups of Osteoarthritis. Goal(s): To investigate the association between bone-SUV and cartilage-T1p and T2 relaxation times of the patellar region with WORMS-scores and OA-status: control, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral, or combined. Approach: Correlations between WORMS scores vs. SUVmax, mean T1p, and T2 for multiple subregions. Group-based differences in Patellar-SUVmax, mean-T1p, and T2. Results: Significant moderate-to-strong positive relationships between all patellar WORMS domains vs. patellar metabolic and compositional markers. Patellar Medial-SUVmax, Lateral-SUVmax, and mean T1p-DM were significantly increased in PFJOA and combined-OA-knees compared to the control and TFJOA-knees. Impact: Presence and extent of morphological bone-marrow-edema, subchondral-cyst, and cartilage-lesion in the patella, and their relationship with peak SUV,T1p, and T2 in patellar subregions in multiple OA subgroups can help elucidate bone remodeling, cartilage degradation and their manifestation in radiographic signs.