Contributo della tomografia assiale computerizzata nella condrocalcinosi del ginocchio

Background. Chondrocalcinosis (CC) is an arthropathy induced by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition. Although any joint may be involved, the knee is the commonest site. Methods. Twenty-five patients, 16 women and 9 men, mean age 62 years (range 37 to 77 years) with radiological evidence of linear deposits of calcific density in knee joint, were investigated by computed tomography (CT) of both knees. Axial CT slices of knee menisci were examined in each patient to evaluate the distribution of CPPD crystals. A clinical history of any associated illness or therapy was taken in all patients. Results. CT scans revealed in all the patients: calcification of both medial and lateral menisci and a similar distribution of CPPD deposition in the vascular outer one third of each meniscus, and in the avascular inner two thirds Calcification were thin and granular in 7 cases, thick and granular in 7 cases, thick and homogeneous in 11 cases. Conclusions. CT surely offers many advantages instead of standard radiographs in the study of localisation, entity, decrease or increase with time of CPPD deposits.