Introduction. Magnetic resonance (MR) facilitates direct visualization of joint structures, especially of the hyaline articular cartilage. It has been proposed as a method for evaluation of osteoarthritis progression. We followed knee joint MR images and their subsequent progression in this study. Methods. Twenty-four patients and their knee joint MR images were followed in this prospective, longitudinal study using sagital slices in T1 weighted images in 3D gradient sequences with fat suppression. The volume of the articular cartilage in medial and lateral compartments of the joint was measured.MRosteoarthritic changes were evaluated – lesions of menisci, presence of synovitis, increase of synovial fluid, hyperaemia/edema of subchondral bone, and cartilage defects. Examination was performed at the baseline of the study and after 2 years. Results. The volume of articular cartilage was significantly lower in medialcompartment (1.653 ± 0.415 ml vs. 2.368 ± 0.378 ml, p<0.001) and grades of menisci lesions in that region were significantly higher (2.542 ± 0.999 vs. 1.917 ± 1.115). The both volumes of medial and lateral compartments of cartilage significantly correlated (p=0.365, p<0.05) as well as alteration of medial and lateral meniscus (p=0.45, p<0.05). The volume of evaluated cartilage and the other evaluated morphological changes did not progress. Only deterioration of chondral defects was closed to statistical significance. Conclusion. MR volumometry of cartilage is probably not suitable method for evaluation of progression of osteoarthritis due to the fact, that cartilage changes its volume during physical loading. Further studies in standardized conditions are needed.

        Key words: osteoarthritis of the knee, progression of osteoarthritis, magnetic resonance