title: Depiction of the triangular fibro-cartilage in patients with ulnar-sided wrist pain: comparison of direct multi-slice CT arthrography and direct MR arthrography.
abstract: To compare direct multi-slice CT arthrography (MSCT-AG) and direct MR arthrography (MR-AG) of the wrist with regard to the depiction of the triangular fibro-cartilage (TFC). Fifteen consecutive patients with ulnar-sided wrist pain suspicious for TFC tear underwent both MSCT-AG and MR-AG of the wrist. Images obtained were evaluated by two radiologists in a blinded fashion for the depiction of six anatomical areas (radial, central and ulnar portion on the proximal and distal side) of the TFC by means of a five-point scoring system (1 = excellent visibility to 5 = not visible). Scores for MSCT-AG and MR-AG were compared using the Student's t-test. Mean scores for MSCT-AG and MR-AG, respectively, were 2.5/2.0, 3.2/2.5 and 2.8/2.4 for the radial, central and ulnar portion of the TFC on its proximal side, and 2.7/2.0, 3.1/2.3 and 2.9/2.4 for the radial, central and ulnar portion on its distal side (n = 15). Paired Student's t-test showed no significant difference between MSCT-AG and MR-AG (P > 0.05). In a first, small series, depiction of the TFC with MSCT-AG is comparable to that of MR-AG. Further evaluation of direct multi-slice CT arthrography of the wrist in a larger patient population would be promising.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Elbow Surgery, Orthopaedic University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. georg.omlor@ok.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Omlor
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grieser
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*