The application of three-dimensional diffusion-weighted PSIF technique in peripheral nerve imaging of the distal extremities.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the addition of the three-dimensional diffusion-weighted reversed fast imaging with steady state free precession (3D DW-PSIF) sequence improves the identification of peripheral nerves in the distal extremities.

Materials And Methods: Twelve MR neurography (MRN) studies of the distal upper extremity and 12 MRN studies of distal lower extremity were evaluated. From the 24 subjects who were enrolled, 10 had clinically suspected peripheral neuropathy, whereas 14 suffered from various orthopedic diseases and had no clinical signs of neuropathy.

Imaging features of chondrosarcoma.

Chondrosarcomas are malignant neoplasms of mesenchymal origin and represent a heterogeneous group of tumors ranging from indolent, low-grade lesions to aggressive, high-grade neoplasms. The early diagnosis and treatment of chondrosarcomas is paramount to achieving a better prognosis. Multiple imaging modalities have been used for the purpose of initial detection, characterization, and staging, as well as for the performance of image-guided biopsies.

A quantitative method to assess focal acetabular overcoverage resulting from pincer deformity using CT data.

Background: Current assessment techniques for focal acetabular overcoverage are neither consistent nor quantitatively accurate.

Questions/purposes: We propose: (1) a method to precisely quantify the amount of focal acetabular overcoverage in a patient's pincer deformity based on CT data; (2) to evaluate the consistency of this method; and (3) to compare the method with conventional radiographic assessments.

Methods: We developed a method to assess focal acetabular overcoverage using points selected from CT scans along the acetabular rim after realigning the pelvis into a neutral position.

MR evaluation of synovial injury in shoulder trauma.

The purpose of this study was to determine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings relevant to synovial injury of the shoulder in patients with and without acute shoulder trauma. Three hundred and nine consecutive shoulder MRI studies (185-male, 124-female, 50 ± 15 years old) were retrospectively evaluated for findings suggestive of synovial injury including rupture and/or diverticulum of the joint capsule, bursa, and biceps tendon sheath (BTS), ganglion/synovial cyst, geyser phenomenon, and sequel of previous shoulder dislocation (Hill-Sachs deformity). Patients with one or more of these findings were included in the MR-positive group, whereas the remaining subjects were used as MR negatives.

High-resolution 3T MR neurography of suprascapular neuropathy.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the imaging findings on high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) in patients with suprascapular nerve (SSN) neuropathy.

Materials And Methods: From 3T MRN examinations performed for brachial plexus evaluation in 51 patients over a 3-year period, 15 patients with final diagnosis of suprascapular neuropathy were recruited. The diagnosis was confirmed by electrodiagnostic studies (EDS), clinical, and/or surgical follow-up examinations.

Subscapularis strain from swinging a baseball bat in an adolescent with closed physis.

A healthy 16-year-old female baseball player was referred by her pediatrician for evaluation of pain in her right, dominant shoulder. The pain had begun insidiously 4 weeks previously after several sessions of batting practice and had worsened until she could not participate in baseball, even with low doses of ibuprofen. She was not participating in any other sports or weight lifting and had had no previous incidents of shoulder pain, but she did have a history of being able to voluntarily subluxate the right shoulder since she was a child.

Peripheral nerve surgery: the role of high-resolution MR neurography.

High-resolution MRN is becoming increasingly available due to recent technical advancements, including higher magnetic field strengths (eg, 3T), 3D image acquisition, evolution of novel fat-suppression methods, and improved coil design. This review describes the MRN techniques for obtaining high-quality images of the peripheral nerves and their small branches and imaging findings in normal as well as injured nerves with relevant intraoperative correlations. Various microsurgical techniques in peripheral nerves, such as neurolysis, nerve repairs by using nerve grafts, and conduits are discussed, and MRN findings of surgically treated nerves are demonstrated.

3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction with relevance to clinical staging.

The posterior tibial tendon (PTT) is the most important dynamic stabilizer of the medial ankle and longitudinal arch of the foot. PTT dysfunction is a degenerative disorder of the tendon, which secondarily involves multiple ligaments, joint capsules, fascia, articulations, and bony structures of the ankle, hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot. When the tendon progressively attenuates, the patient develops a painful, progressive collapsed flatfoot or pes planovalgus deformity.

Magnetic resonance imaging of spondyloarthritis: spine and SI joints.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recently introduced as a classification criterion for spondyloarthropathies in the Assessment of Spondylarthritis International Society criteria. Therefore, it plays an increasingly important role in the diagnostic workup of spondyloarthropathies. In this article, we will review the MRI imaging features of axial spondyloarthritis from sacroiliitis to spine abnormalities; we will explain the rationale for MRI imaging, the evidence for whole body MRI, and we will approach the use of MRI for monitoring treatment response.

Cartilage magnetic resonance imaging techniques at 3 T: current status and future directions.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the imaging modality of choice for morphological and compositional evaluation of the articular cartilage. Accurate detection and characterization of cartilage lesions are necessary to guide the medical and surgical therapy and are also critical for longitudinal studies of the cartilage. Recent work using 3.

Magnetic resonance imaging of inflammatory myopathies.

The following article reviews the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), focusing on the 3 major types of IIM: polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion-body myositis. After a brief introduction with general information about IIM, we will discuss the reasons why MRI plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of patients with polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion-body myositis. Magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the diagnosis and can help to phenotype the disease.

Effect of spinal segment variants on numbering vertebral levels at lumbar MR imaging.

Purpose: To verify iliolumbar ligament (ILL) location, to evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging morphologic features for detecting lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (TVs) (LSTVs), and to determine whether transitional situations are associated with anomalous vertebral numbering.

Materials And Methods: Investigational review board approval was obtained for this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. A review of 147 subjects was performed by using spine radiography as the reference standard to determine total and segmental vertebral count and transitional anatomy.

Epidemiology, imaging, and treatment of Lisfranc fracture-dislocations revisited.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the features of Lisfranc injuries and identify their typical imaging findings on radiographs, CT, and MR imaging. Lisfranc injuries are most often caused by hyperplantarflexion of the foot, often during a sporting injury or in high-speed motor vehicle collisions. The most common radiographic findings include diastasis of the base of the first and second metatarsals and the "fleck" sign, though neither is necessarily present in every Lisfranc fracture-dislocation.

Augmented reality visualization using Image-Overlay for MR-guided interventions: system description, feasibility, and initial evaluation in a spine phantom.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide a preliminary user assessment of Image-Overlay, an augmented reality system for MRI-guided needle placement, in a spine phantom.

Conclusion: Image-Overlay can be used to successfully target lumbar facet joints with high accuracy and minimal insertions. This is potentially useful for other interventional MRI applications.

MR neurography findings of soleal sling entrapment.

Objective: The ever-increasing use of higher field strength (3 T) scanners and novel pulse sequences with improved spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio have rendered MR neurography (MRN) a valuable technique in the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. The aim of this study is to illustrate the imaging findings of high-resolution MRN in patients who suffer from tibial nerve entrapment due to a soleal fibromuscular sling and to correlate the imaging findings with intraoperative and clinical examination results.

Conclusion: This article depicts the surgically confirmed imaging findings of high-resolution MRN in tibial nerve entrapment by the soleal sling.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided osseous biopsy in children with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.

Purpose: To report the safety and diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance (MRI)--guided core biopsy of osseous lesions in children with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) that were visible on MRI but were occult on radiography and computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of MRI-guided osseous biopsy performed in seven children (four girls and three boys; mean age 13 years (range 11 to 14) with CRMO was performed. Indication for using MRI guidance was visibility of lesions by MRI only.

CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation of osteoid osteoma in children: an initial study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for osteoid osteoma in children.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. From January 2007 to July 2008, six children (four boys, two girls, mean age 12.

Articular cartilage in the knee: current MR imaging techniques and applications in clinical practice and research.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most important imaging modality for the evaluation of traumatic or degenerative cartilaginous lesions in the knee. It is a powerful noninvasive tool for detecting such lesions and monitoring the effects of pharmacologic and surgical therapy. The specific MR imaging techniques used for these purposes can be divided into two broad categories according to their usefulness for morphologic or compositional evaluation.

Policies and procedures for reviewing medical images from portable media: survey of radiology departments.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey current practices for portable media (CDs and DVDs) use for medical imaging in both academic and nonacademic radiology departments in the United States.

Methods: This survey was a stratified, nonrandom sample, 22-question electronic survey, using SurveyMonkey, of members of the Association of Administrators in Academic Radiology, the Association for Medical Imaging Management, and the University HealthSystem Consortium, conducted in November 2009. Questions were grouped by media production and media viewing practices.

Minimally invasive percutaneous transpedicular screw fixation: increased accuracy and reduced radiation exposure by means of a novel electromagnetic navigation system.

Background: Minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation methods may increase the need for intraoperative fluoroscopy, resulting in excessive radiation exposure for the patient, surgeon, and support staff. Electromagnetic field (EMF)-based navigation may aid more accurate placement of percutaneous pedicle screws while reducing fluoroscopic exposure. We compared the accuracy, time of insertion, and radiation exposure of EMF with traditional fluoroscopic percutaneous pedicle screw placement.

MR imaging features of common variant spinal anatomy.

The spine is one of the most commonly imaged body parts for all age groups, with indications ranging from congenital abnormalities at birth to degenerative pathology toward the end of life. Because of the importance of softtissue contrast when imaging the spine, MR imaging has become the most important modality in its evaluation. One of the key challenges in the clinical analysis of spinal MR imaging lies in the wide range of so-called normal variability.