MR arthrography: impact of steroids, local anesthetics, and iodinated contrast material on gadolinium signal intensity in phantoms at 1.5 and 3.0 T.

Purpose: To determine if gadolinium signal intensity at direct magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography is affected by the addition of steroids, anesthetics, or iodinated contrast material.

Materials And Methods: This study did not require approval by the institutional review board because no patients or patient data were involved. An in vitro study was performed to evaluate various concentrations of three gadolinium contrast agents (gadopentetate dimeglumine, gadobenate dimeglumine, and gadofosveset trisodium) diluted in either saline or iodinated contrast material (50% and full-strength iohexol 300).

Shoulder MR arthrography: intraarticular anesthetic reduces periprocedural pain and major motion artifacts but does not decrease imaging time.

Purpose: To prospectively determine whether the addition of an intraarticular anesthetic to the magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography solution has an effect on periprocedural pain, motion artifacts, and imaging time.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. From September 2009 to March 2010, 127 patients, most imaged for shoulder pain, were randomized into two groups.