Gadopentetate-dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging of osteonecrosis and osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow: initial experience.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on seven patients with aseptic osteonecrosis (n = 4) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD; n = 3) of the elbow. Precontrast MRI was superior to plain radiographs, which did not show any abnormality in three cases of osteonecrosis. On gadopentetate-dimeglumine-enhanced T1-weighted images, which were obtained in three patients with osteonecrosis and three patients with OCD, all cases of osteonecrosis demonstrated homogeneous enhancement of the lesions. All cases of OCD were diagnosed on plain radiographs. On MRI one showed significant enhancement of the loose body. In another case an incompletely enhancing loose body was surrounded by a diffusely enhancing region. In the third patient only a small marginal enhancement of the defect was observed. Our results suggest that MRI can improve the accuracy in diagnosis of aseptic osteonecrosis of the elbow. The use of gadopentetate dimeglumine allows the viability of the lesions or the loose bodies to be demonstrated and reparative tissue to be detected.
Peiss
J
J
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology, Aachen, Germany.
Adam
G
G
Casser
R
R
Urhahn
R
R
Günther
R W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007594:Joint Loose Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA