LESIONS OF THE TRIANGULAR FIBROCARTILAGE COMPLEX - MR FINDINGS WITH A3-DIMENSIONAL GRADIENT-RECALLED-ECHO SEQUENCE

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of a three-dimensional gradient-recalled- echo (GRE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence in the depiction o f lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) complex. MATERIALS AN D METHODS: MR images of the TFC complex were evaluated in 31 patients who underwent wrist arthroscopy less than 6 months after MR imaging. T he results were compared with the arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: Elev en of 12 full-thickness TFC tears were depicted, but one partial-thick ness tear, one abnormal disk, and one normal disk were overstaged. Les ions in the volar and dorsal radioulnar ligament and lesions of the at tachments of the TFC complex to the ulna often were overstaged. Lesion s of the ulnolunate and ulnotriquetral ligaments often were understage d. CONCLUSION: Imaging with the three-dimensional GRE sequence is reli able in the depiction of TFC tears and the exclusion of tears of compo nents of the TFC complex other than those of the ulnolunate and ulnotr iquetral ligaments.