Glenoid bone lesions: comparison between 3D VIBE images in MR arthrography and nonarthrographic MSCT

Purpose:

To evaluate the feasibility of using a fat‐suppressed 3D volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) sequence in magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography as a substitute for nonarthrographic multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in detecting glenoid bone lesions.

Materials and Methods:

Fat‐suppressed 3D VIBE MR arthrography and MSCT were performed in 56 patients (46 male, 10 female; age range, 14–51 years; mean age, 26 years). Based on the results of MSCT, the sensitivity and specificity of fat‐suppressed 3D VIBE images for detection of bony Bankart lesion and glenoid bone loss were determined. Statistical significance of the percentages of glenoid bone loss between these two methods was calculated.

Results:

Bony Bankart lesions were noted in 23 (41.1%) of 56 glenohumeral joints, and glenoid bone loss was found in 40 (71.4%) of 56 patients at nonarthrographic MSCT. Compared with MSCT, the sensitivity and specificity of fat‐suppressed 3D VIBE images in detecting bony Bankart lesions were 95.7%–100% and 93.9%–97.0%, respectively (kappa value = 0.926), and those in predicting glenoid bone loss were 95.0% and 93.8%, respectively. For quantification of glenoid bone loss, there was a high correlation between fat‐suppressed 3D VIBE and MSCT (r = 0.921, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Fat‐suppressed 3D VIBE MR arthrography is a promising substitute for MSCT as a reliable method for evaluating bony Bankart lesion and glenoid bone loss. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:231–236. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc.