LOW-FIELD MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING (0.2 T) OF TENDONS WITH SONOGRAPHIC AND HISTOLOGIC CORRELATION - CADAVERIC STUDY

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors evaluate the role of low-field s trength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with sonography in t he evaluation of degenerative changes of tendons, with histologic corr elation, based on investigations of horse cadavers, METHODS, Low-field MRI and sonography was performed in 42 horse specimens for the evalua tion of tendons and ligaments. Magnetic resonance imaging included sag ittal and axial T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gradient echo images. So nography and MR images were evaluated for degenerative changes or tear s and the findings were correlated with the histologic results, RESULT S. Using histologic findings as a gold standard, the accuracy for the sonographic evaluation was 65.9%, sensitivity was 16.7%, and specifici ty was 100%. The corresponding data for low-field MR imaging were 70.5 % accuracy, 44.4% sensitivity, and 88.5% specificity. CONCLUSIONS. Low -field MRI investigation allows more accurate staging of tendinous cha nges than sonography. It is more reproducible and potentially includes the advantages of the combined evaluation of bones, ligaments, and so ft tissue.