MR arthrography of the glenohumeral joint: two concentrations of gadoteridol versus Ringer solution as the intraarticular contrast material.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two concentrations of gadoteridol with Ringer solution as the contrast material for magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography of the glenohumeral joint.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-six consecutive MR arthrograms were randomly obtained with either 2 mmol/L gadoteridol (n = 52), 4 mmol/L gadoteridol (n = 52), or Ringer solution (n = 52). MR arthrograms were assessed quantitatively (for contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR]) and qualitatively (for overall image quality, image contrast, degree of joint distention, and motion artifacts). MR diagnoses were compared with arthroscopic or surgical reports in 88 patients.


RESULTS
The mean CNR at imaging was 40.4 with 2 mmol/L gadoteridol, 45.6 with 4 mmol/L gadoteridol, and 48.7 with Ringer solution. The CNR with 2 mmol/L gadoteridol was significantly lower than that with 4 mmol/L gadoteridol (P =.025) and Ringer solution (P =.012). Qualitative differences between the two gadoteridol concentrations were not significant. Ringer solution was significantly worse with regard to overall quality, motion artifacts, image contrast, and joint distention compared with both gadoteridol concentrations. Ringer solution was slightly more sensitive and less specific than the gadoteridol solutions in the detection of supraspinatus tears and less sensitive and more specific in enabling diagnosis of superior labrum anteroposterior lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
MR arthrograms of the shoulder obtained with gadoteridol and those obtained with Ringer solution provided equivalent diagnostic accuracy. The authors, however, preferred the image quality of the gadoteridol-enhanced arthrograms.
Binkert
C A
CA
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland. binkert@compuserve.com
Zanetti
M
M
Gerber
C
C
Hodler
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D005682:Gadolinium