Cartilage Thickness Visualization using 2D WearMaps and TrackBack

Osteoarthritis (OA) has a significant impact in terms of morbidity, quality of life, economic and social cost. It is the most prevalent form of arthritis - affecting a large proportion of the population, internationally. The use of Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging (MRI) has gained significant support. MRI allows detailed, multi-planar analysis of the joint anatomy, as well as cartilage and underlying bone status; with the ability to view articular surfaces at any angle. In this paper we describe a user interface to visualize the articular cartilage thickness using 2D WearMap derived using MR knee images. The user interface comprises an interactive function (TrackBack) which allows to the Clinician to easily and rapidly refer to the radiological information (e.g. MR images), while maintaining the geometric integrity between the WearMap and the MR image.