Monica Tafur MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mohammed Jamal Aakef, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tania Kumar, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jiang Du PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sheronda Statum, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christine B. Chung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The objectives of this study are to implement high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using ultrashort time-to-echo (UTE) techniques to evaluate the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and to quantify the MR properties of the TFCC.

Institutional review board approval with exemption of informed consent was obtained. Wrists of subjects and human cadavers were imaged in a 3T Signa TwinSpeed scanner (GE Healthcare) with optimized coils (microscopy and dedicated wrist coils). Morphologic evaluation sequences included high-resolution proton density (PD), 3D spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) and 2D/3D UTE. Quantitative evaluation included conventional (T2 SE), T1rho sequences tailored for long T2 values (2D/3D T1rho) and UTE (UTE T2* and UTE T1rho) sequences and an in-house MatLab analysis algorithm fitting regions of interest (ROIs) to determine average values. 

High-resolution MR images demonstrated the different structures of the TFCC as well as pathological findings including perforations, degeneration and calcifications of the fibrocartilage among others. UTE sequences allowed the visualization of structures with short T2 components and subtraction techniques facilitated the identification of these components, such as TFC calcifications, which were better demonstrated in UTE sequences as compared with conventional PD sequences. Quantitative MR analysis of the TFC showed a bi-component decay behavior in normal subjects (short T2* = 0.31 ms, long T2* = 9.68 ms). T2, UTE T2* and T1rho values were increased with degeneration of the TFC. In the presence of calcifications, UTE T2* values were decreased probably due to magnetic susceptibility effects. In some cases, certain areas of the TFC showed increased UTE T2* values despite a normal appearance on standard PD sequences, which may indicate early stages of degeneration.

UTE MRI allows the visualization of short T2 components of the TFCC and improved the demonstration of certain pathologies as compared with the standard clinical sequences. Quantitative MR analysis reflected changes in TFC composition in some pathological cases.

Morphological and quantitative UTE sequences allow visualization of the short T2 components of the TFCC and demonstration of some pathological cases not provided by the standard clinical sequences. 

Tafur, M, Aakef, M, Kumar, T, Du, J, Statum, S, Chung, C, The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex: High- Resolution Morphologic and Quantitative MR Evaluation .  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011485.html