MRI of the Stener lesion

Objective. To assess the utility of MR in detecting surgically induced Stener lesions (displaced thumb ulnar collateral ligaments) in cadaveric models. Design. Six cadaver thumbs had ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears created surgically. MR examinations (2D STIR and 3D GRASS) were performed identically on all specimens both before displacement (non-Stener) and after displacement (Stener lesion) of the UCL. The MR images were then randomly numbered. Each image was evaluated separately in blinded fashion by four musculoskeletal radiologists for the presence or absence of a Stener lesion. Each radiologist reinterpreted the images after an interval of several days. The interpretation was based on previously published criteria for Stener lesion diagnosis by MR. Results. The sensitivity of GRASS ranged from 0.17 to 0.67 with the most experienced reader scoring the lowest. The specificity of GRASS ranged from 0.33 to 1.0 (most experienced reader 0.67, 0.83). STIR had a sensitivity of 0.00–0.17 and a specificity of 0.53–0.83. The values for inter- and intraobserver agreement were measured. The intraobserver for GRASS was 0.27–0.75 (most experienced reader 0.75). Conclusions. 2D imaging is probably inadequate for the evaluation of Stener lesions. The most likely reason is that the STIR slice thickness of 3 mm limits resolution of small UCLs. The poor sensitivity and specificity of GRASS as well as poor interobserver agreement suggest that MR may not be sufficiently accurate for Stener lesion evaluation.     

3 D MEDIC和3 D SPACE磁共振神经成像在腰骶丛神经根的一致性对比研究

目的 验证三维多回波数据联合成像 (three dimensional multi-echo data imagine combination with selective water excitation, 3D MEDIC WE)和三维快速自旋回波成像 (three dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution, 3D SPACE STIR) 序列在腰骶丛神经根成像中的可行性和重复性。方法 将55例受试者分为腰椎无异常表现的正常对照组(20例)、单纯性腰椎间盘突出症(lumbar disc herniation, LDH)组(20例)和慢性炎性脱髓鞘性多发性神经根神经病症(chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, CIDP)组(15例),分别应用两种腰骶丛神经根成像,评价图像质量参数信噪比(signal to noise ratio,SNR)、对比噪声比(contrast to noise ratio,CNR)和对比度(contrast ratio,CR),并验证正常对照组、CIDP组和LDH组测量神经根直径的一致性。结果 两序列测得神经根直径的一致性较高(正常组r=0.95,CIDP组r=0.99,LDH组r=0.97,P<0.001),图像质量评价指标显示,3D SPACE STIR序列在SNR、CNR和CR三项指标中占优,3D MEDIC WE定性评估图像质量评分较高。两序列均能清晰显示正常腰骶丛神经根、病变所致的弥漫性形态增粗神经根以及间盘突出受挤压变形的神经根。结论 3D MEDIC WE和3D SPACE STIR序列可应用于腰骶丛神经根成像,两序列对正常和异常形态、走行的神经根评估具备很高的可行性和重复性。综合考量临床图像的定性、定量评价,可择优选择恰当的序列为腰骶丛神经根成像提供影像支持。     

Cuantificación del área miocárdica en riesgo: validación de puntuaciones angiográficas coronarias con métodos de resonancia magnética cardiovascular

Introduction and objectives

Quantification of myocardial area-at-risk after acute myocardial infarction has major clinical implications and can be determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance. The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation Myocardial Jeopardy Index (BARI) and Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) angiographic scores have been widely used for rapid myocardial area-at-risk estimation but have not been directly validated. Our objective was to compare the myocardial area-at-risk estimated by BARI and APPROACH angiographic scores with those determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Methods

In a prospective study, cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed in 70 patients with a first successfully-reperfused ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction in the first week after percutaneous coronary intervention. Myocardial area-at-risk was obtained both by analysis of T2-short tau inversion recovery sequences and calculation of infarct endocardial surface area with late enhancement sequences. These results were compared with those of BARI and APPROACH scores.

Results

BARI and APPROACH showed a statistically significant correlation with T2-short tau inversion recovery for myocardial area-at-risk estimation (BARI, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.72; P<.001; APPROACH, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.69; P<.001). Better correlations were observed for anterior acute myocardial infarction than for other locations (BARI, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.73 vs 0.63; APPROACH, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.68 vs 0.50). Infarct endocardial surface area showed a good correlation with both angiographic scores (BARI, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.72; P<.001; with APPROACH, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.70; P<.001).

Conclusions

BARI and APPROACH angiographic scores allow reliable estimation of myocardial area-at-risk in current clinical practice, particularly in anterior infarctions.Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org     

骨质疏松性胸腰椎骨折MRI STIR黑色线性信号与外力程度的关系

背景:随着社会老龄化加重,骨质疏松椎体骨折患者日益增多,主要表现为胸腰椎体压缩性骨折,严重影响老年人的日常生活。因此,研究外力程度与骨质疏松胸腰椎体骨折在影像MRI STIR上表现的关系,可以更好的为临床诊疗提供依据。目的:探讨外力作用程度与骨质疏松性胸腰椎骨折MRI STIR黑色线性信号的相关性。方法:回顾性分析2013年9月至2016年9月在广西中医药大学第一附属医院脊柱外科住院,明确诊断为骨质疏松性胸腰椎骨折的患者,3组中所有病例均行定量CT检查确诊为骨质疏松(骨密度值≤80 mg/cm^3)。所有患者对治疗方案均知情同意,且得到医院伦理委员会批准。根据创伤史,分为无明显外力作用组(无明显诱因、无外力作用等)、低能量外力作用组(扭伤、弯腰提重物、扛重物等)、高能量外力作用组(平路摔倒臀部着地、跌倒、撞伤等),统计各组间性别、年龄、骨折部位(胸腰段和非胸腰段)、MRI STIR黑色线性信号椎体例数及所在的部位(胸腰段和非胸腰段)。3组间年龄属于计量资料采用方差分析;性别、骨折部位、MRI STIR黑色线性信号的椎体数量及所在部位属于计数资料,用Pearson χ~2检验。结果与结论:①纳入的3组病例共782例。无明显外力作用组334例,其中椎体内黑色线性信号114例;低能量外力作用组186例,其中椎体内黑色线性信号124例,高能量外力作用组262例,其中椎体内黑色线性信号87例;②3组间年龄、性别、骨折部位、MRI STIR黑色线性信号所在椎体部位差异均无显著性意义(P> 0.05);③3组间MRI STIR黑色线性信号比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05),分割P值,降低检验水准(α’=0.05/3=0.017)。低能量外力作用组分别与无明显外力作用组、高能量外力作用组比较,差异有显著性意义(P<0.017);无明显外力作用组与高能量外力作用组比较,差异无显著性意义(P> 0.017);④并且低能量外力作用组中MRI STIR黑色线性信号出现率为66.7%,明显大于其他2组的43.1%和33.2%;⑤提示在创伤史中,相对于无明显外力作用和高能量外力作用,低能量外力作用的骨质疏松性胸腰椎骨折更容易导致MRI STIR黑色线性信号的出现,并且多见于胸腰段椎体。     

Use of limited MR protocol (coronal STIR) in the evaluation of patients with hip pain

Objective To assess the role of a limited MR protocol (coronal STIR) as the initial part of the MR examination in patients with hip pain.Design and patients Eighty-five patients presenting with hip pain, and normal radiographs of the pelvis, and who underwent our full MR protocol for hips were included retrospectively in the study. The full protocol consists of coronal T1-weighted and short tau inversion-recovery (STIR), and axial T2-weighted sequences. Ninety-three MR examinations were performed. Two radiologists interpreted the STIR (limited) examinations and the full studies separately, masked to each other's findings and to the final diagnosis. Comparison between the two protocols was then undertaken.Results For both readers, all normal MR examinations on the coronal STIR limited protocol were normal on the full protocol, with an interobserver reliability of 0.96. The STIR protocol was able to detect the presence or absence of an abnormality in 100% of cases (sensitivity). The STIR-only protocol provided a specific diagnosis in only 65% of cases (specificity).Conclusion A normal coronal STIR study of the hips in patients with hip pain and normal radiographs precludes the need for further pelvic MR sequences. Any abnormality detected on this limited protocol should be further assessed by additional MR sequences.     

Magnetic resonance imaging features of fractures using the short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence: correlation with radiographic findings

The MRI characteristics of fractures have been described on the basis of spin echo (SE) images emphasizing T1 and T2 contrast. These previous studies were carried out for injuries in which radiographic proof was often lacking. In comparison with SE images, short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images have been shown to provide superior contrast between normal and abnormal marrow. To determine the MRI characteristics of fracture using STIR pulse sequences, we reviewed 28 patients who had radiographic evidence of fracture and were examined with T1-weighted SE and STIR sequences. MRI marrow signal abnormalities were demonstrated at all fracture sites ranging in age from less than 24 h to 8 weeks. The extent of marrow signal abnormalities exceeded the size of corresponding radiographic findings of fracture in all cases. The MRI features of fractures on T1-weighted SE images consisted of irregular intramedullary zones of hypointensity. On STIR images a corresponding zone of hyperintensity extended to the outer cortical margin. Intramedullary lines of hypointensity extending to the inner cortical margin were identified within the hyperintense marrow abnormality on STIR images in 64% of the fractures. The results of this study show that MRI using T1-weighted SE and STIR sequences can consistently demonstrate prominent signal abnormalities at fracture sites including those in which radiographic signs are subtle.     

Atypical appearance of lipomatous tumors on MR images: high signal intensity with fat-suppression STIR sequences.

Lipomatous tumors generally have signal characteristics that allow them to be diagnosed with great accuracy by means of magnetic resonance imaging. These tumors usually have signal intensities similar to those of subcutaneous fat on both T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images. Previous reports have not, to the authors' knowledge, described the appearance of lipomatous tumors on images obtained with a short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) sequence, which can be used to suppress signal from fat. Three lipomatous tumors (two liposarcomas and one lipoma) with signal characteristics unlike those of normal subcutaneous fat at all pulse sequences are presented.     

Whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging: technical improvement and preliminary results

PURPOSE: To optimize the free-breathing whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) protocol by using the short TI inversion-recovery diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (STIR-DWEPI) sequence and the built-in body coil. Additionally, to evaluate the feasibility of tumor screening using high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) maximum intensity projection (MIP) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prescan procedure of STIR-DWEPI was modified using the data from 30 volunteers. During each exam, an optimized center frequency (CF) was used to minimize the slice offsets in consecutive scan stations. Prescan time was reduced from 50 seconds to 20 seconds with improved station profile. Total scan time was 30 minutes for five stations and 1.2 m coverage. A total of 30 patients with histologically-proven malignant disease were scanned under the final protocol using a built-in body coil. The image quality and the degree of background body signal suppression were assessed. RESULTS: Free-breathing WB-DWI was 100% successfully performed in all patients, without slice misregistration, fat contamination, significant distortion, or nonuniformity. The reconstructed 3D-MIP images were adequate to depict malignant lesions in all 30 patients. The results of WB-DWI were found to be comparable to those of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). CONCLUSION: Stable and high-resolution WB-DWI is feasible using the technical improvements described in this study. WB-DWI might have important clinical value for the detection of primary and metastatic malignancies within the whole body. The potential for diagnosis and therapeutic assessment of tumors should be further assessed in a larger patient cohort.     

Balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of pathological vertebral compressive fractures

Background Previous clinical studies have shown the safety and effectiveness of balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of pathological vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). However, they have not dealt with the impact of relatively common comorbid conditions in this age group, such as spinal stenosis, and they have not explicitly addressed the use of imaging as a prognostic indicator for the restoration of vertebral body height. Neither have these studies dealt with management and technical problems related to surgery, nor the effectiveness of bone biopsy during the same surgical procedure. This is a prospective study comparing preoperative and postoperative vertebral body heights, kyphotic deformities, pain intensity (using visual analogue scale) and quality of life (Oswestry disability questionnaire) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and osteolytic vertebral tumors treated with balloon kyphoplasty.Methods Thirty-two consecutive patients, 27 OVCFs (49 vertebral bodies [VBs]) and 5 patients suffering from VB tumor (12 VBs) were treated by balloon kyphoplasty. The mean age was 68.2 years. All patients were assessed within the first week of surgery, and then followed up after one, three and six months; all patients (27 OVCFs and 5 tumor patients) were followed up for 12 months, 17 patients (14 OVCFs and 3 tumors) were followed up for 18 months and 9 patients (8 OVCFs and 1 tumor) were followed up for 24 months (mean follow up 18 months). The correction of kyphosis and vertebral heights were measured by comparing preoperative and postoperative radiographic measurements.Results Thirty-one patients (96.9%) exhibited significant and immediate pain improvement: 90% responded within 24 h and 6.3% responded within 5 days. Daily activities improved by 53% on the Oswestry scale. In the OVCF group, kyphosis correction was achieved in 24/27 patients (89.6%) with a mean correction of 7.6°. Anterior wall height was restored in 43/49 VBs (88%) (mean increment of 4.3 mm), and mid vertebral body height was restored in 45/49 VBs (92%) (mean increment of 4.8 mm). Edema (high intensity signal) on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) was evidenced in all OVCF patients who experienced symptoms for less than nine months and was associated with correction of deformity. Cement leakage was the only technical problem encountered; it occurred in 5/49 VBs (10.2%) of the osteoporotic group and 1/12 VBs (8.3%) of the tumor group but had no clinical consequences. The incidence of leakage to the anterior epidural space was 2%. Spinal stenosis was present in three patients (11.1%) who responded successfully to subsequent laminectomy. Retrieval of tissue samples for biopsy was successful in 10/15 cases (67%). New fractures occurred in the adjacent level in 2/27 OVCF patients (7.4%).Conclusions Associated spinal stenosis with OVCF should not be overlooked; STIR MRI is a good predictor of deformity correction with balloon kyphoplasty. The prevalence of a new OVCF in the adjacent level is low.