title: High-resolution interleaved water-fat MR imaging of finger joints with chemical-shift elimination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the use of an interleaved water-fat (IWF) sequence with a custom-made radiofrequency (RF) coil for high-resolution imaging of arthritic finger joints.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution finger magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed using a custom-made dedicated RF receiver coil and an IWF sequence. A phantom, a cadaver finger specimen, and the fingers of two normal controls and six arthritic subjects were imaged with a resolution of 156 × 156 × 600 μm. The appearance of anatomic structures on the IWF images were compared with images acquired with a regular sequence. The images were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists for the depiction of anatomical structures and for the presence of abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The high-resolution images revealed detailed structures of the finger joints not detectable using typical clinical resolution. The IWF sequence gave more realistic depiction of subchondral bone thickness, and avoided false bone erosions displayed in the regular sequence. It also allowed better visualization of ligaments and tendons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study shows the feasibility and the potential usefulness of high-resolution IWF imaging for finger joint evaluation. This technique may be useful for the diagnosis and treatment assessment of arthritis, and for the study of joint disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. edmund_kwok@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Wingchi E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Gwysuk
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Saara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Totterman
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritchlin
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D001168:Arthritis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water