Journal article
The association of CT-detected intra-articular calcification with MRI-detected effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis in knee OA: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study
Osteoarthritis and cartilage, Vol.34(8), pp.1263-1269
08/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2026.04.017
PMCID: PMC13197858
PMID: 42097273
Abstract
CT-detected intra-articular (IA) calcification from calcium crystal deposition is associated with worsening cartilage damage and knee pain in osteoarthritis (OA); whether there is associated joint inflammation is unclear. We studied the relation of CT-detected IA calcification to imaging evidence of inflammation (i.e., effusion-synovitis and/or Hoffa-synovitis) on knee MRI in middle-aged and older adults, focusing on tissue-specific relationships.
Participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis study with knee CTs and MRIs were included. Presence of IA calcification on CT was defined as Boston University Calcium Knee Score >0 in hyaline cartilage, meniscus, and capsule anywhere in the knee. Effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis were scored on MRI using MOAKS at baseline and two years later. We evaluated the relation of IA calcification (overall and in specific tissues) to presence of effusion-synovitis and/or Hoffa-synovitis longitudinally, using Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for age, sex, race, and body mass index.
We included 1669 participants with available knee CT and MRI (mean age 60.6±9 years, 56% female, mean BMI 28.5±5 kg/m2; 21.6% knees with radiographic OA). Overall, at baseline, 9.2% had any IA calcification, 30.0% had effusion-synovitis, 37.0% Hoffa-synovitis, and 50% either effusion-synovitis and/or Hoffa-synovitis. The presence of any IA calcification was associated with 30% higher risk of effusion-synovitis and/or Hoffa-synovitis longitudinally (risk ratio 1.30, 95% CI 1.16, 1.46). Results were similar for IA calcification in the cartilage, meniscus, and capsule.
CT-detected IA calcification in various tissues was associated with the presence of joint inflammation on MRI over 2 years.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The association of CT-detected intra-articular calcification with MRI-detected effusion-synovitis and Hoffa-synovitis in knee OA: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study
- Creators
- Jean W. Liew - Boston UniversityMohamed Jarraya - Harvard UniversityAli Guermazi - Boston UniversityNene C. Ukonu - Boston UniversityGabriela Rabasa - Boston UniversityRobert Terkeltaub - UC San Diego Health SystemDavid Felson - Boston UniversityMichael Nevitt - University of California, San FranciscoCora E. Lewis - University of Alabama at BirminghamJames Torner - University of IowaTuhina Neogi - Boston University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Osteoarthritis and cartilage, Vol.34(8), pp.1263-1269
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.joca.2026.04.017
- PMID
- 42097273
- PMCID
- PMC13197858
- NLM abbreviation
- Osteoarthritis Cartilage
- ISSN
- 1063-4584
- eISSN
- 1522-9653
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- NIH: K24 AR070892, P30 AR072571 NIH NIAMS: K23 AR084603, K23 AR082938 Rheumatology Research Foundation Investigator Award Cathedral Fund/David Borsook Project Fund Award NIA: U01 AG18820, U01 AG18832, U01 AG18947, U01 AG19079, U19 AG076471
This work was supported by NIH P30 AR072571. Jean Liew was supported by NIH NIAMS K23 AR082938 and the Rheumatology Research Foundation Investigator Award. Mohamed Jarraya was supported by NIH NIAMS K23 AR084603, and the Cathedral Fund/David Borsook Project Fund Award. Tuhina Neogi was supported by NIH K24 AR070892. The MOST Study was supported by NIA U01 AG18820, U01 AG18832, U01 AG18947, and U01 AG19079; and NIA U19 AG076471.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 05/05/2026
- Date published
- 08/2026
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Epidemiology; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9985163468802771
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