To Evaluate The Application Of Multiple Articular Cartilage Sequences In The Diagnosis Of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis With 3.0T MR

Purpose To observe the difference of the different sequences and optimize scanning for articular cartilage.Materials and MethodsThree normal cadaver' s wrists were examined with GE SIGNA EXITEⅡ3.0T MR scanner.SE T1WI,SE T2WI,PDWI,FS PDWIand 3D-FSPGR sequence were obtained with different flip and TE.This gave the same layer imaging parameters for each axial and coral planar scan sequence.The SNR(signal-noise ratios) and the CNR(contrast-to-noise ratios) for cartilage versus bone marrow and cartilage versus tendon were calculated.All data were analyzed with a software package SPSS 13.0(Statistical Product and Service Solutions).Randomized Block Design Analysis of Variance was used to compare SNR with different CNR.Double-Comparison q test was applied to compare data of different sequences.P＜0.05 was applied to analyzed the statistically significant differences.Results①An optimal CNR and better SNR between cartilage and adjacent tissues was obtained by using 3D-SPGR T1[TE/minfull(6.6ms),Flip(30°)]sequence;②There was no significant dirrerence for SNR of the articular cartilage sequences.CNR of the articular cartilage with adjacent tissues on 3D-FSPGR sequences showed that There was a stistically significant dirrerence,comparing with PDWI,FS PDWI sequences(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in all groups of 3D-FSPGR sequences.③Conventional SE TIWI,SE T2WI were less usefull for imaging articular cartilage.Conclusion: 3D-FSPGR〔TE/TE/flip angle(6.6ms/9.9ms/30°)〕wae the the optimal parameters for imaging of the articular cartilage of the wrist.As a conventional scan sequence,FS PDWI sequence could do a good job for imaging the articular cartilage as well. Purpose:To assess the usefullness of 3.0TMR in the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist.Materials and Methods:Thirty-five early rheumatoid arthritis clinically confirmed patients,range from 18 to 62 years,mean 43.7years,7 men and 28 women, were examined at 3.0T MR scanner.SE T1WI,T2WI,FSPDWI,3D FSPGR coronal and axial images were obtained.The data was postprocessed with GE software 4.2.The SNR and CNR of the carpal bones and cartilage were measured respectively.All the data was analyzed with a software package of SPSS13.0. To compare SNR and CNR,using the method of randomized-design analysis of variance.Q test were used to perform two way comparison with different parameters.P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result:Pannus formation was demonstrated in 30 patients(85.7%);21 ones were found tendonitis was in 21 cases(60%);Bone marrow edema was discovered in 5 patients(14.3%);Joint effusion was shown in 3 cases(8.6%);Abnormalities of the articular cartilage were shown in 29 patients(80.3%).Conclusion:In contrast with the routine MRI sequences,FS PDWI,3D FSPGR sequenes were able to show earlier articular cartilage changes It is recommended that FS PDWI,3D FSPGR sequenes be used for the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist.