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MR‐guided direct arthrography of the hip
Author(s) -
Graves Martin J.,
Wakely Suzanne,
Bearcroft Philip W.,
Black Richard T.,
van Rooyen Elzare,
Soh Edmund,
Lomas David J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21432
Subject(s) - fluoroscopy , scanner , fast spin echo , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , image quality , nuclear medicine , gradient echo , interventional magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , computer science , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics)
Purpose To develop an MR‐guided technique for direct magnetic resonance arthrography (DMRA) of the hip using a conventional 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner. Materials and Methods Interactive versions of standard single‐shot fast spin echo, coherent gradient echo, and fully balanced steady‐state free precession sequences were developed, together with the ability to operate the scanner from within the magnet room. Initial optimization was performed using ex vivo animal joints. After informed consent, five patients underwent DMRA using dilute gadolinium as the contrast medium. Results The procedure was successful in all five patients and diagnostic quality MR arthrography studies were obtained in all cases. The time taken from the initial placement of skin marker to the introduction of contrast medium reduced with successive patients: 26, 22, and 19 min with the final two studies taking 13 min each. Conclusion This work demonstrates the feasibility of performing DMRA using MR guidance, avoiding the need for X‐ray fluoroscopy facilities but exploiting the available imaging performance of a high‐field closed‐bore MR system. The use of an in room control and display system together with interactive fluoroscopic imaging sequences simplifies the positioning of the needle and allows rapid confirmation of an intra‐articular injection. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:462–465. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.