Abstract
Purpose
To develop an MRโguided technique for direct magnetic resonance arthrography (DMRA) of the hip using a conventional 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner.
Materials and Methods
Interactive versions of standard singleโshot fast spin echo, coherent gradient echo, and fully balanced steadyโstate free precession sequences were developed, together with the ability to operate the scanner from within the magnet room. Initial optimization was performed using ex vivo animal joints. After informed consent, five patients underwent DMRA using dilute gadolinium as the contrast medium.
Results
The procedure was successful in all five patients and diagnostic quality MR arthrography studies were obtained in all cases. The time taken from the initial placement of skin marker to the introduction of contrast medium reduced with successive patients: 26, 22, and 19 min with the final two studies taking 13 min each.
Conclusion
This work demonstrates the feasibility of performing DMRA using MR guidance, avoiding the need for Xโray fluoroscopy facilities but exploiting the available imaging performance of a highโfield closedโbore MR system. The use of an in room control and display system together with interactive fluoroscopic imaging sequences simplifies the positioning of the needle and allows rapid confirmation of an intraโarticular injection. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;28:462โ465. ยฉ 2008 WileyโLiss, Inc.