Thomas Magee, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Isotropic imaging can produce 3D images useful for surgical planning. This study assesses the practical utility of isotropic shoulder imaging in patients undergoing MR arthrography.

Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists retrospectively interpreted MR images of the shoulder in 100 consecutive patients undergoing MR arthrography of the shoulder. All patients underwent MR imaging of the shoulder in oblique coronal, oblique sagittal and axial planes on a 3.0 Tesla MR . All patients also had thin section (0.4 mm) isotropic spoiled gradient echo images performed. Sixty-seven of the 100 patients underwent subsequent arthroscopy and results were compared with MR interpretations.

There were forty-one full thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, nine partial thickness supraspinatus tendon tears , twenty-one superior labral , eighteen anterior labral and seven posterior labral tears demonstrated by consensus retrospective reading of the 100 shoulder MR exams. There was no difference in interpretation of the isotropic images as compared to the conventionally acquired images. Some patients had more than one finding on each exam. Sixty-seven patients went on to arthroscopy. There were forty one full thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, nine partial thickness supraspinatus tendon tears, twenty-one superior labral , eighteen anterior labral and seven posterior labral tears demonstrated on arthroscopy. All full and partial thickness supraspinatus tendon tears seen at arthroscopy were seen on consensus MR reading. Nineteen out of the twenty one patients with SLAP tears at arthroscopy were seen on prospective MR reading. Sixteen of the eighteen anterior labral tears and six of the seven posterior labral tears seen at arthroscopy were seen on consensus MR reading. Some patients had more than one finding on arthroscopy.

Isotropic imaging provides the same clinical information as conventional imaging and can be acquired in less than three minutes.

Isotropic imaging provides the same clinical information as conventional imaging and can be acquired in less than three minutes.

Magee, T, Can Isotropic Fast Gradient Echo Imaging be Substituted for Conventional T1 Weighted Sequences in Shoulder MR Arthrography?.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4427062.html