Usefulness of the acromioclavicular joint cross-sectional area as a diagnostic image parameter of acromioclavicular osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND: Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) space narrowing has been considered to be an important diagnostic image parameter of ACJ osteoarthritis (ACJO). However, the morphology of the ACJ space is irregular because of osteophyte formation, subchondral irregularity, capsular distention, sclerosis, and erosion. Therefore, we created the ACJ cross-sectional area (ACJCSA) as a new diagnostic image parameter to assess the irregular morphologic changes of the ACJ. AIM: To hypothesize that the ACJCSA is a new diagnostic image parameter for ACJO. METHODS: ACJ samples were obtained from 35 patients with ACJO and 30 healthy individuals who underwent shoulder magnetic resonance (S-MR) imaging that revealed no evidence of ACJO. Oblique coronal, T2-weighted, fat-suppressed S-MR images were acquired at the ACJ level from the two groups. We measured the ACJCSA and the ACJ space width (ACJSW) at the ACJ on the S-MR images using our imaging analysis program. The ACJCSA was measured as the cross-sectional area of the ACJ. The ACJSW was measured as the narrowest point between the acromion and the clavicle. RESULTS: The average ACJCSA was 39.88 ± 10.60 mm(2) in the normal group and 18.80 ± 5.13 mm(2) in the ACJO group. The mean ACJSW was 3.51 ± 0.58 mm in the normal group and 2.02 ± 0.48 mm in the ACJO group. ACJO individuals had significantly lower ACJCSA and ACJSW than the healthy individuals. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses demonstrated that the most suitable ACJCSA cutoff score was 26.14 mm(2), with 91.4% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. CONCLUSION: The optimal ACJSW cutoff score was 2.37 mm, with 88.6% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity. Even though both the ACJCSA and ACJSW were significantly associated with ACJO, the ACJCSA was a more sensitive diagnostic image parameter.