Aline Maehringer-Kunz MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Roman Kloeckner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stephan Mueller-Haberstock, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Dueber MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Karl Friedrich Kreitner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the diagnostic benefit of an additional series acquired in abduction and external rotation (ABER) during direct MR arthrography at 3T.

We analyzed 23 patients with persistent shoulder pain who underwent direct MR arthrography of the shoulder from 03/2010 - 03/2013. After arthrography with diluted Gadolinium-DTPA (0.02mmol Magnevist, Bayer Schering Pharma, Germany), conventional shoulder MRI was performed in axial, sagittal and coronal plane followed by additional series in ABER position. All examinations were performed on a 3T MRI (Trio® and Skyra®, Siemens Healthcare, Germany). Mean patient age was 36 years, 15 were male, 8 were female. Blinded analysis was performed by a senior radiologist with >20 years of experience in shoulder MRI who first analyzed conventional MR arthrography followed by a conjoined analysis of conventional and ABER imaging.

ABER series provided additional information in 18 of 23 (78%) patients. Especially pathologies of the superior labrum (n=12), the attachment of the joint capsule (n=12), and the articular surface of the rotator cuff (n=6) were either better displayed or only detectable on ABER images. The implementation of ABER imaging enabled the diagnosis of microinstability or atraumatic instability in 4 of 23 (17%) patients.

Though only a small series is presented, there may be a potential role of ABER imaging at direct MR arthrography. Especially in patients with suspected superior labral pathologies, partial articular sided tears of the rotator cuff, and microinstability the technique may be beneficial.

In all patients with suspected superior labral pathologies, partial articular sided tears of the rotator cuff, and microinstability an additional ABER series should be performed.

Maehringer-Kunz, A, Kloeckner, R, Mueller-Haberstock, S, Dueber, C, Kreitner, K, Benefit of Additional ABER Series in Direct MR Arthrography of the Shoulder at 3T.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14015021.html