3T Knee MRI Evaluation — Cellforce One Clinic Tokyo
Knee MRI Evaluation / Tokyo

Knee pain should be evaluated before regenerative treatment is offered.

In Ginza, Tokyo, Cellforce One combines 3T knee MRI, physician review, and honest osteoarthritis triage to determine whether autologous adipose-derived MSC therapy, rehabilitation, orthopedic referral, or observation is the appropriate next step. A clinic that offers MSC to everyone is not doing proper regenerative medicine.

Self-pay (out-of-pocket) care · Screening, not a confirmed diagnosis · Individual results vary · MSC therapy is filed under Japan's Act on Safety of Regenerative Medicine and offered only to selected cases under physician judgment.

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Why MRI First

We do not recommend MSC
without imaging-based triage.

Knee pain rarely has a single cause. Cartilage damage, meniscal injury, ligament problems, chronic inflammation, and advanced joint-space narrowing often coexist. The suitability of MSC therapy cannot be determined without an MRI and an integrated physician review.

01

Multiple causes

Cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, synovial inflammation, osteophytes, and joint-space narrowing often coexist behind a single complaint of knee pain. Imaging anchors the assessment.

02

Grade 4 needs surgery review

In Grade 4 (bone-on-bone) advanced osteoarthritis, orthopedic surgery or joint replacement may be more appropriate than MSC. Regenerative medicine is not the answer for every knee.

03

Honest referral

When MSC is not appropriate, CFO recommends rehabilitation, observation, or orthopedic referral candidly. Saying no is part of practicing regenerative medicine responsibly.

Tokyo MRI Advantage

Imaging completed within
a short Tokyo stay.

High-resolution 3T knee MRI is performed at Medical Scanning Ginza, within walking distance of CFO. The setup makes it practical to consolidate imaging, reading, and physician consultation during a short Tokyo stay.

According to OECD data, Japan ranks among the top countries by MRI units per capita. Central Tokyo offers practical scheduling for international patients with limited stay durations.

Note: Imaging infrastructure availability does not promise diagnostic or treatment outcomes. Final decisions are made through physician consultation and, where appropriate, referral to specialist medical institutions.

Sample 4-panel 3T knee MRI imaging
What We Evaluate

Findings organized into
a clinical decision.

Knee MRI findings only inform an MSC suitability decision when integrated with symptoms, prior treatments, medication, metabolic context, and oncologic history.

OA Grade

Grades 1-4 organized using established frameworks (e.g., Kellgren-Lawrence) to clarify the boundary between regenerative and surgical care.

Cartilage

Femoral, tibial, and patellar cartilage thickness, defects, and focal lesions assessed on 3T MRI.

Meniscus

Medial / lateral meniscal tears and degenerative findings — important triggers for orthopedic referral when present.

Surrounding tissues

Ligaments, synovium, joint capsule, bone marrow edema, cysts, and osteophyte status.

Symptoms · Function

Pain, walking distance, range of motion, night pain, and stair tolerance.

History · Medication

Prior surgery, previous joint injections, current analgesics, supplements, and anticoagulants.

Metabolic · Inflammatory

BMI, glycemic status, and chronic inflammation markers as contributors to joint load.

Cancer · Autoimmune history

A history of cancer treatment or autoimmune disease requires especially careful physician judgment regarding MSC suitability.

Suitability Matrix

Different findings,
different paths.

Based on MRI findings and clinical assessment, the physician organizes the case into MSC candidate, orthopedic referral, observation, or further evaluation.

Finding Likely path
Grade 1-2 OA
early cartilage change		 Rehabilitation, inflammation control, lifestyle guidance. MSC consultation possible but not required.
Grade 2-3 OA
persistent symptoms		 After MRI and physician assessment, autologous adipose-derived MSC suitability review may be considered for selected patients.
Grade 4 / bone-on-bone
joint space loss		 Orthopedic specialist or joint replacement discussion may be more appropriate. MSC alone is often insufficient at this stage.
Acute swelling · infection · trauma Acute care first. MSC is postponed until the condition stabilizes and re-evaluation is completed.
Recent cancer treatment MSC suitability requires especially careful physician review, considering oncology and orthopedic input. Decisions are individualized.
Unclear findings · systemic factors Precision Check is recommended for broader assessment of inflammation, metabolic, and vascular factors beyond the knee.

Note: This is a decision framework. Final decisions are made individually based on physician consultation, imaging findings, and clinical course.

MRI findings and treatment planning
If MSC May Be Appropriate

A conditional follow-on,
not a default treatment.

Only when imaging findings, symptoms, prior treatments, medication, metabolic context, and oncologic history collectively support the indication, autologous adipose-derived MSC therapy may be considered. This is positioned as a conditional follow-on to the suitability evaluation, not a sales-driven treatment offer.

  • ●Cell source: autologous adipose-derived MSC
  • ●Details: determined individually by the physician
  • ●Prerequisites: physician review, suitability decision, informed consent, cell processing, quality review
  • ●Follow-up: timing determined individually by the physician

Note: Provided as a plan filed under Japan's Act on Safety of Regenerative Medicine (plan number PB3250155). Filing represents the establishment of a provision framework and is distinct from national endorsement of treatment effect. Individual results vary.

If MSC Is Not Appropriate

Honest options when
MSC is not the right choice.

When CFO does not recommend MSC, alternative pathways are made explicit from the start. Recommending regenerative medicine to everyone is not appropriate clinical care.

Path A

Rehabilitation · Exercise

For Grade 1-2 OA or muscle weakness as a primary driver, rehabilitation and lifestyle guidance are usually preferred first.

Path B

Weight · Metabolic review

When BMI, glycemic status, or chronic inflammation contribute to joint load, metabolic improvement can be the most effective route to relief.

Path C

Orthopedic referral

When meniscal or osteotomy surgery should come first, CFO assists with preparation for referral to specialist institutions.

Path D

Joint replacement discussion

For Grade 4 / bone-on-bone presentations, total knee arthroplasty discussion may be the realistic option.

Path E

Observation

When no immediate intervention is warranted, Monthly Review or Annual Re-Check is offered for monitoring.

Path F

Precision Check

If findings are not explained by knee pathology alone, Precision Check organizes inflammation, vascular, and metabolic factors.

A Staged Approach

MSC is not
a same-day procedure.

CFO never administers MSC on the day of imaging. When MSC is considered, evaluation and any subsequent steps are planned individually by the physician, with details and timing determined on a case-by-case basis.

01

Before travel

Share medical records, symptoms, and prior imaging via LINE / WhatsApp / email. Evaluation strategy is organized in advance.

02

Trip 1 · Ginza

3T knee MRI · physician consultation · OA grade review · suitability discussion. If selected and consented, the next steps are planned individually.

03

Cell processing

Autologous adipose-derived MSC is quality-reviewed at the partner CPC. No travel is required during this period.

04

Trip 2 · Administration

After physician re-evaluation and final consent, any treatment is provided with details determined individually by the physician. Follow-up timing is determined individually.

Note: Travel schedule and stay duration are arranged individually. If suitability is not supported, subsequent steps are not performed. MSC is provided only after physician judgment, informed consent, and quality review.

Follow-up · Continued Care

Care continues
after the procedure.

Continued follow-up after MSC therapy or evaluation is supported, with timing determined individually by the physician. The physician team tracks pain, walking, rehabilitation adherence, and symptom progression.

Periodic

Follow-up Review

Pain score, walking distance, range of motion, and medication status. Repeat imaging where appropriate.

Periodic

Longevity Review

Health-data organization and periodic review by the physician team. A monthly subscription option for patients seeking continuity.

Annual

Annual Re-Check

Yearly repeat imaging and physician consultation. Next-action design adjusted to lifestyle and symptom changes.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Q1. Is this a same-day knee stem cell treatment?

No. CFO first evaluates whether MSC therapy is appropriate. If MSC is considered, evaluation, quality review, informed consent, and any subsequent steps are planned individually by the physician. CFO does not administer MSC on the day of imaging.

Q2. Can MSC cure knee osteoarthritis?

A specific outcome is not promised. MSC may be considered for selected cases where imaging and physician assessment suggest a reasonable regenerative medicine pathway. Advanced bone-on-bone disease may be better suited to orthopedic surgery or joint replacement. Individual results vary.

Q3. Why start with MRI?

Knee pain can come from cartilage damage, meniscus injury, ligament issues, inflammation, or advanced joint narrowing. Offering MSC without imaging-based triage is not proper regenerative medicine. MRI helps determine whether MSC, rehabilitation, orthopedic referral, or observation is the most appropriate next step.

Q4. What happens if I am not suitable for MSC?

CFO will explain why and may recommend rehabilitation, observation, additional testing, orthopedic specialist referral, or joint replacement discussion. Not every patient should receive regenerative medicine. Honest referral is part of CFO's role.

Q5. Is EV / exosome treatment included?

EV / exosome treatment is not included in this knee front-door pathway. CFO does not provide same-day cosmetic exosome treatment or allogeneic EVs. Autologous MSC-derived EV may be considered only after the patient's own MSC has been harvested, processed, and banked.

Q6. Can international patients use this pathway?

Yes. Patients may share medical records and prior imaging before travel via LINE, WhatsApp, or email. Diagnosis and treatment decisions are made through physician consultation. Multilingual pre-arrival consultation is available.

Q7. Can I receive MSC if I have a history of cancer?

Patients currently undergoing or recently completing cancer treatment require special physician review before MSC suitability can be considered. Decisions are made individually under physician judgment, taking into account input from the treating oncologist and orthopedic specialist.

Important Notes

Before you proceed.

Get Started

Request a Knee
Eligibility Review.

Pre-arrival online consultation (LINE / WhatsApp / email) gathers your symptoms, history, and existing imaging. We then propose a 3T knee MRI evaluation and MSC suitability review plan. This is an entry point to discuss eligibility — not a treatment booking.

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Domestic patients may prefer LINE; international patients typically use WhatsApp.