title: Low-field MR imaging for the assessment of therapy response in musculoskeletal infections.
abstract: Fifty-one patients with musculoskeletal infection were imaged by repeated MR imaging at ultra low-field and low-field strength. Soft-tissue infection, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and spondylitis were studied. The MR finding was scored according to the signal intensity (SI) on T2-weighted images (T2WI), and correlated with the values of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count. There was a positive correlation between the MR score and both CRP and ESR, but no correlation between MR score and WBC. The MR score between the follow-up studies decreased significantly in accordance with clinical reconstitution. The MR finding according to the SI on T2WIs corresponded better to disease activity than did the CRP or ESR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Meilahti Clinics, University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hovi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valtonen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korhola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hekali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein