Functional Imaging of the Knee - A Comprehensive Review.

Knee pain is a common presenting problem in the general population. Radiographs and MRI are the cornerstones of imaging in current clinical practice. With advancements in technology, there has been increasing utilization of other modalities to evaluate knee disorders. Dynamic assessment utilizing computed tomography and portable ultrasounds have demonstrated the capacity to accurately assess and reproducibly quantify kinematics of knee disorders. Cartilage physiology can be further evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. Emerging research has even demonstrated novel musculoskeletal applications of positron emission tomography to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament graft metabolic activity after reconstruction. As technology continues to evolve and traditional ways are improved upon, future comparative studies will elucidate the distinct advantages of the various modalities. Although radiology is still primarily an anatomic specialty, there is immense potential for functional imaging to be the standard of care. This review focuses on the most common musculoskeletal applications of functional imaging, as well as future utilization.