Interventional musculoskeletal procedures performed by using MR imaging guidance with a vertically open MR unit: assessment of techniques and applicability.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of and time required for a broad range of musculoskeletal interventional procedures performed by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging guidance with a vertically open 0.5-T unit.


METHODS
Sixty-three MR imaging-guided procedures were performed. A vertically open MR unit equipped with in-room display monitors allowed interactive freehand MR guidance predominantly with fast spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences. Each procedure was classified in terms of the anatomic location, procedure type, and tissue type involved. The procedures were evaluated for success of needle placement, adequacy of tissue sampling, total procedural time, needle time, number of needle passes, and complications.


RESULTS
Procedures consisted of tissue sampling with core-needle (n = 6) or fine-needle aspiration (n = 20) biopsy, corticosteroid or contrast agent injection (n = 19), joint cyst aspiration (n = 7), and drainage (n = 11). Successful needle placement was achieved in all 63 cases. Cytologic and histologic tissue samples were sufficient for pathologic diagnosis in 24 of 26 cases. In two cases, complications occurred: transient local bleeding and a brief vasovagal episode. The mean total procedural time was 64.8 minutes; the mean needle time, 26.2 minutes; and the mean number of needle passes per patient, 1.6.


CONCLUSIONS
With use of a vertically open MR unit, MR-guided interventional procedures involving bone, soft tissue, intervertebral disks, and joints are safe and sufficiently rapid for use in clinical practice.
Genant
Justin W
JW
Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, Calif., USA.
Vandevenne
Jan E
JE
Bergman
A Gabrielle
AG
Beaulieu
Christopher F
CF
Kee
Stephen T
ST
Norbash
Alexander M
AM
Lang
Philipp
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*