Contrast-enhanced dynamic MR imaging in rheumatoid arthritis

This paper reports on a study for the identification of different pannus formations. Twenty patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint were examined with MR imaging primary to surgery. The authors used a 1.5-T Magnetom unit, a circular surface coil for signal detection, 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA given as a bolus injection, fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence (TR, 30 msec; TE, 10 msec; 128 x 128 matrix; excitation angle, 70 degrees) repeated 30 times within 120 seconds, and a T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (Tr, 500 msec; TE, 22 msec) before and 2 minutes after contrast medium injection. Enhancement of pannus and joint effusion has been measured and standardized to muscle tissue