MRI offers the best of all imaging modalities because of its superior contrast differentiation between muscle, fat, vessels, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, cortical bone and marrow bone space. MRI displays excellent delineation of soft tissue and bony tumors and is extremely useful in detecting avascular necrosis of bone, particularly of the hip. High resolution knee imaging techniques provide unparalleled detail of the menisci, ligaments and cruciates.
MR imaging is very well suited for the evaluation of ligaments, muscle and bony abnormalities of the shoulder, without the need for painful invasive procedures. MRI demonstrates similar advantages in imaging other complex anatomy such as the elbow, wrist, foot and ankle due to its multi-planar imaging capability, its sensitivity to soft tissue and bone disease processes and its ability to identify dislocations and fractures.
This T1-weighted coronal wrist image uses thin slice and small FOV to provide highly detailed analysis of the triangular fibrocartilage, carpal bones, radius and ulna.
High intensity signal is depicted in the supraspinatus area on this coronal oblique fast spin echo shoulder.
This 3mm FSE T2-weighted sagittal image of the knee demonstrates a high signal intensity tibial lesion and increased joint space fluid.
An Achilles tendon tear is demonstrated on this sagittal T1-weighted image of the ankle.