Search

Objective: Direct magnetic resonance arthrography (dMRA) is often considered the most accurate imaging modality for the evaluation of intra-articular structures, but utilization and performance vary widely without consensus. The purpose of this white paper is to develop consensus recommendations on behalf of the Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) based on published literature and expert opinion., Materials and Methods: The Standards and Guidelines Committee of the SSR identified guidelines for utilization and performance of dMRA as an important topic for study and invited all SSR members with expertise and interest to volunteer for the white paper panel. This panel was tasked with determining an outline, reviewing the relevant literature, preparing a written document summarizing the issues and controversies, and providing recommendations., Results: Twelve SSR members with expertise in dMRA formed the ad hoc white paper authorship committee. The published literature on dMRA was reviewed and summarized, focusing on clinical indications, technical considerations, safety, imaging protocols, complications, controversies, and gaps in knowledge. Recommendations for the utilization and performance of dMRA in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle/foot regions were developed in group consensus., Conclusion: Although direct MR arthrography has been previously used for a wide variety of clinical indications, the authorship panel recommends more selective application of this minimally invasive procedure. At present, direct MR arthrography remains an important procedure in the armamentarium of the musculoskeletal radiologist and is especially valuable when conventional MRI is indeterminant or results are discrepant with clinical evaluation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Objective: To highlight the MRI characteristics of pathologically proven amyloidosis involving the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and determine the utility of MRI in directing targeted biopsy for aiding diagnosis., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed for patients with pathologically proven PNS amyloidosis who also underwent MRI of the biopsied or excised nerve. MRI signal characteristics, nerve morphology, associated muscular denervation changes, and the presence of multifocal involvement were detailed. Pathology reports were reviewed to determine subtypes of amyloid. Charts were reviewed to gather patient demographics, neurological symptoms and radiologist interpretation., Results: Four men and three women with a mean age of 62 ± 11 years (range 46-76) were identified. All patients had abnormal findings on EMG with mixed sensorimotor neuropathy. All lesions demonstrated diffuse multifocal neural involvement with T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, and variable enhancement on MRI. One lesion exhibited superimposed T2 hypointensity. Six of seven patients demonstrated associated muscular denervation changes., Conclusion: Peripheral nerve amyloidosis is rare, and the diagnosis is difficult because of insidious symptom onset, mixed sensorimotor neurologic deficits, and the potential for a wide variety of nerves affected. On MRI, peripheral nerve involvement is most commonly characterized by T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, variable enhancement, maintenance of the fascicular architecture with fusiform enlargement, multifocal involvement and muscular denervation changes. While this appearance mimics other inflammatory neuropathies, MRI can readily detect neural changes and direct-targeted biopsy, thus facilitating early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Objective: Unlike with anterior cruciate ligament injury, little is known about the prevalence of intra-articular pathology associated with isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in the knee. The objectives of this study were to characterize and identify the frequency of meniscal tears and osteochondral injuries in these patients, and to see if management might be affected., Materials and Methods: Altogether, 48 knee MRI exams with isolated PCL tears were evaluated for the presence of: grade and location of PCL tear, meniscal tear, articular chondral lesion, bone bruise, and fracture. Comparisons between PCL tear grade and location, as well as mechanism of injury when known, with the presence of various intra-articular pathologies, were made using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test as appropriate., Results: In all, 69 % of isolated PCL tears occur in the midsubstance, 27 % proximally. Meniscal tears were seen in 25 % of knees, involving all segments of both menisci, except for the anterior horn medial meniscus. Altogether, 23 % had focal cartilage lesions, usually affecting the central third medial femoral condyle and medial trochlea, while 12.5 % of knees had fractures, and 48 % demonstrated bone bruises, usually involving the central to anterior tibiofemoral joint. The presence of a fracture (p = 0.0123) and proximal location of PCL tear (p = 0.0016) were both associated with the hyperextension mechanism of injury. There were no statistically significant associations between PCL tear grade and presence of intra-articular abnormality., Conclusion: Potentially treatable meniscal tears and osteochondral injuries are relatively prevalent, and demonstrable on MRI in patients with isolated acute PCL injury of the knee.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in the utilization of MRA of the hip and shoulder at a large tertiary care academic medical center during a period of significant technological advancements over the last 20 years., Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional analysis identified MRA of the hip and shoulder performed at our institution over a 20-year period (2/2003-2/2023) in relation to the total number of MR hip and shoulder examinations during the same period. Patient characteristics and referring provider demographic information were extracted. Descriptive statistics and trend analysis were performed., Results: The total number of MRIs of the hip and shoulder increased overall, with small dips in 2020 and 2022. MRA of the hip increased significantly over the first 10 years of the study period (p = 0.0005), while MRA of the shoulder did not change significantly (p = 0.33). The proportion of both MRA of the hip and shoulder declined over the last 10 years (hip, p = 0.0056; shoulder, p = 0.0017). Over the same period, there was significant increase in the proportion of examinations performed at 3 Tesla versus 1.5 (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Overall, there was a downward trend in MR shoulder and hip arthrogram utilization in the second half of this 20-year study period. However, utilization varied somewhat by referring specialties and credentials. These changes are likely reflective of both improvements in image quality and evolving practice recommendations. Awareness of such trends may be valuable in ensuring appropriate patient care, as well as for anticipating the needs of a musculoskeletal radiology practice., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Competing interests The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Jennifer S. McDonald reports a relationship with GE Healthcare that includes consulting or advisory and funding grants. The other authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Skeletal Society (ISS).)

This article discusses the normal anatomy and pathologic appearances of the intrinsic and extrinsic wrist ligaments using MR Imaging. Technological advances in surface coil design and higher magnetic field strengths have improved radiologists' ability to consistently visualize these small ligaments in their entirety. Wrist ligament anatomy, in the context of proper physiologic function, is emphasized, including common normal variants, and their appearances on MR imaging. The spectrum of disorders, incorporating overlapping appearances of senescent degenerative changes, and destabilizing ligament tears, is outlined. The diagnostic performance of MR imaging to date for various ligament abnormalities is discussed, along with significant limitations., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Timely diagnosis of carpal fractures is important for optimal treatment outcome. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed early in the workup can provide an accurate and specific diagnosis, as well as uncover developing complications. In the absence of carpal fractures, MR imaging can provide alternative diagnoses such as other unsuspected fractures involving the distal radius/ulna or hand, osseous contusions, and soft-tissue injuries to various ligaments about the wrist. Although MR imaging is the imaging modality of choice to assess the viability of the proximal fragment in scaphoid nonunion, the optimal imaging protocol is not universally agreed upon., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Schnitzler syndrome is characterized by chronic urticaria, monoclonal gammopathy, and a risk of developing lymphoproliferative disorders. Patients frequently present with bone pain, fever, arthralgia, and lymphadenopathy. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively review and evaluate potentially attributable imaging abnormalities in a series of patients with clinically diagnosed Schnitzler syndrome., Materials and Methods: Clinical and pathological chart review identified 22 patients meeting Strasbourg criteria for Schnitzler syndrome. Imaging of these patients was retrospectively reviewed by a musculoskeletal radiologist and a radiology fellow to determine and characterize significant "positive" findings that could potentially be attributed to their primary disease process., Results: Evidence of abnormal bone remodeling was present in 64% (14/22) of patients with 40 bone abnormalities. Lesions were predominantly or entirely sclerotic and most commonly involved the distal femora (n = 11), proximal tibiae (nine), and innominate bones (six). Patterns of involvement were variable, but typically eccentrically intramedullary, cortical, and juxta-articular. Skeletal surveys and targeted radiographs identified only 37% (10/27) of abnormal bones subsequently "positive" by additional modalities. PET and bone scans were all positive in patients with bone sclerosis (13/13 and 17/17 bone sites, respectively)., Conclusions: Schnitzler syndrome often presents with characteristic osteosclerosis, most commonly around the knees and in the pelvis. In patients with a suggestive clinical history, the radiologist could direct an appropriate imaging strategy or might to be the first to suggest the diagnosis. Bone scan may be the most appropriate initial screening tool in suspected cases.

The optimal imaging protocols for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist ligaments are discussed, including the use of magnetic resonance arthrography, and 3 Tesla (T) versus 1.5 T magnetic field strength. The normal MRI appearance of the triangular fibrocartilage complex, capsular, and interosseous wrist ligaments is briefly covered to point out potential diagnostic pitfalls. Numerous examples of common ligamentous pathology discernible on MRI are provided, along with the latest estimates of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity provided by the literature., (Copyright © 2013 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Wrist magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has established utility in the diagnosis of wrist ligament tears, including complete tears of the ulnotriquetral ligament (UTL) and other components of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. A new type of longitudinal split tear of the UTL has recently been described with no imaging correlate. Our aims were to describe putative MRI findings associated with longitudinal UTL split tears and to assess diagnostic accuracy., Methods: We randomly selected 40 patients with arthroscopically proven longitudinal UTL split tears and 20 patients with intact UTLs, all of whom had preoperative 3 T MRI of the same wrist performed, from a list of operative notes spanning from January 1997 through October 2011, filtered with the terms "ulnotriquetral ligament" and "ulnar triquetral ligament." Two musculoskeletal radiologists who were blinded to surgical results and clinical information independently reviewed the exams. They recorded the degree of certainty of whether a longitudinal UTL split tear was present and whether several other hypothesized associated abnormalities were present., Results: Overall sensitivity for definitive longitudinal UTL split tear detection on MRI was 58% for reader 1 and 30% for reader 2. Specificity was 60% for both. There were no statistically significant discriminatory findings., Conclusions: Among a selected group of patients who all had wrist arthroscopy, preoperative noncontrast 3 T wrist MRI had poor sensitivity and specificity for detection of the longitudinal split type of UTL tear. To date, MRI may be more helpful to exclude potential alternative diagnoses in the patient with ulnar wrist pain., (Copyright © 2013 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To validate the diagnostic performance of an in-scanner exercise-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination used to screen for chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). Final clinical impression and intracompartmental needle manometry (INM) served as the reference standards., Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients, referred by a sports medicine physician or orthopedic surgeon, underwent the MRI examination for lower extremity pain over the past 4 years and 9 months. Utilizing a diagnostic T2-weighted intensity ratio threshold of 1.54, established by a prior cohort of patients, sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated for the anterior compartments. The means of the T2-weighted intensity ratios were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test., Results: A total of 79 patients were identified, and 76 met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. Of these, 23 met clinical diagnostic criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were 96% (95% CI: 79-99%) and 87% (95% CI: 75-94%) using the established threshold of 1.54. T2-weighted intensity ratio provided excellent discrimination with a concordance statistic of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.91-1.00). In the subset of 36 patients with INM results, 23 patients met criteria for CECS, although only 19 patients met both INM and clinical criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI examination relative to INM results were 87% (95%: 70-96%) and 62% (95% CI: 36-82%) respectively., Conclusion: In-scanner exercise-based MRI demonstrated reliability and reproducibility as a non-invasive screening test for CECS, thus reducing the need for invasive INM.