HIGH-RESOLUTION MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE PROXIMAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINTS - CORRELATION WITH HISTOLOGY AND PRODUCTION OF A 3-DIMENSIONAL DATA SET

The magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the proximal interphalang eal joints of cadavers mas correlated with histology of the same speci men allowing many small-scale features to be identified that might oth erwise have been misinterpreted. It enabled the magnetic resonance sig nal to be understood at a tissue and cellular level, allowing identifi cation of synovial folds extending from the extensor tendon and volar plate, the entheses of the proper collateral ligament, the epitenon of the flexor tendons and the presence of osteophytes and sites of carti lage erosion. The main difficulties in matching two-dimensional magnet ic resonance images with histology were the differing section thicknes ses of the two methods and shrinkage of histological specimens. There are many advantages in producing high resolution three-dimensional dat asets-the magnetic resonance section thickness is reduced and the indi vidual components of the joint can be viewed simultaneously in two or more planes. A unique magnetic resonance atlas of three dimensional jo int structure is presented.