Meniscal Mineralization in Cats: A Common Radiographic Marker of Medial Joint Degeneration

Meniscal Mineralization in Domestic Cats

Mila Freire, DVM; James Brown, DVM, DACVR; Ian D. Robertson, BVSc, DACVR; Anthony P. Pease, DVM, MS, DACVR; Jonathan Hash, BA; Stuart Hunter, DVM, DACVP; Wendy Simpson, DVM; Andrea Thomson Sumrell, RVT; B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BSc, BVSc, PhD, DACVS, DECVS

Background

Meniscal mineralization has been sporadically reported across species but is poorly understood in domestic cats. Its prevalence, clinical significance, and potential association with degenerative joint disease (DJD) have not been well characterized. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of radiographically detectable meniscal mineralization in domestic cats and to evaluate whether meniscal mineralization is associated with degenerative changes in the stifle joint, particularly cartilage damage.

Methods

This prospective observational study consisted of two components. First, a prevalence study evaluated digital stifle radiographs from 100 randomly selected client-owned cats across age groups. Second, a cadaver study assessed 57 stifles from 29 adult cats using digital and high-detail radiography, gross morphologic cartilage assessment with India ink staining, quantitative cartilage damage scoring, and histopathology of menisci. Radiographic DJD scores were assigned, meniscal mineralization was quantified as a percentage of meniscal area, and correlations with cartilage damage and DJD scores were analyzed.

Results

Radiographically detectable meniscal mineralization was identified in 46% of client-owned cats and 37% of evaluated stifles, frequently as the sole radiographic abnormality. In the cadaver study, meniscal mineralization was present in 60% of stifles and was consistently located in the cranial horn of the medial meniscus. The extent of meniscal mineralization was significantly correlated with cartilage damage of the medial femoral and tibial condyles, total cartilage damage score, and subjective DJD score. Histologically, mineralization consisted of chondro-osseous metaplasia or organized ossification with cancellous bone and marrow. Pain scores did not differ between stifles with isolated meniscal mineralization and radiographically normal stifles.

Limitations

The clinical population was drawn from a single veterinary practice, which may limit generalizability. Pain assessment in cats is inherently challenging, potentially obscuring subtle clinical effects. Additionally, the cross-sectional design does not allow determination of whether meniscal mineralization is a cause or a consequence of joint degeneration.

Conclusions

Meniscal mineralization is a common radiographic finding in domestic cats and is strongly associated with medial compartment degenerative joint disease of the stifle. Although its clinical significance remains uncertain, meniscal mineralization appears to be a useful indicator of underlying joint degeneration. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify its role in the pathogenesis of feline DJD.

Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.