MR arthrography of the ankle joint

Due to its superior soft tissue contrast conventional MRI is the imaging me thod of choice in the evaluation of ankle joint disorders. Conventional MR imaging can accurately demonstrate normal or acutely injured ligaments; how ever, in subacute and chronic injury joint flu id necessary for delineation of injured ligaments is absent and MR arthrography should be performed. MR arthrography uses the intraarticular injection of contrast materia I to di stend the joint, yielding improved discrimination of intraarticular structu res. This joint distension with MR arthrography is also helpful in the stag ing of osteochondritis dissecans, since in cases of unstable lesions tracki ng of contrast material into the interface can be more easily demonstrated. Finally, high contrast and joint distension by MR arthrography improves th e detection of intraarticular loose bodies, which often require surgery. MR arthrography, a although invasive, may provide additional information in v arious ankle joint disorders.