Smith D K
Department of Diagnostic Radiology/SGHRD, Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236.
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1993 Aug;161(2):353-7. doi: 10.2214/ajr.161.2.8333377.
Three-dimensional Fourier transform MR imaging techniques can produce much thinner contiguous slices than are obtainable with standard two-dimensional Fourier transform MR imaging techniques. The improved spatial resolution and capabilities for interactive multiplanar displays allow better visualization of small, complex anatomic structures, such as the carpal ligaments. The purposes of this study were twofold: (1) to determine if the volar carpal ligaments can be consistently visualized when using three-dimensional Fourier transform MR imaging techniques with multiplanar reconstructions and (2) to evaluate the size, shape, orientation, and right-to-left symmetry of the volar carpal ligaments in both wrists of 25 asymptomatic volunteers as a basis for future comparison when patients with suspected ligament injuries are seen.
Both wrists of 25 asymptomatic volunteers were imaged with a three-dimensional Fourier transform MR imaging technique with commercially available equipment. A three-dimensional graphic workstation was used to reconstruct oblique two-dimensional images in the long axes of the major volar carpal ligaments. The size, shape, orientation, and right-to-left symmetry of the ligaments were determined from the reconstructed two-dimensional images.
Six of the eight volar ligaments were visualized in more than 95% of the 50 wrists: the radioscaphocapitate, radiolunotriquetral, radiolunate, ulnolunate, ulnotriquetral, and triquetroscaphoid ligaments. The radioscaphoid and radioscapholunate ligaments were less well defined and were recognizable as ligaments in only 66% and 26% of wrists, respectively.
The major volar carpal ligaments can be visualized consistently with three-dimensional Fourier transform MR imaging techniques and multiplanar reconstructions. The volar carpal ligaments are usually symmetric between the right and left sides; therefore, MR images of a patient's injured wrist can be compared with MR images of the contralateral wrist. The size and shape of the volar carpal ligaments shown in this article can be used as a basis for comparison when patients with suspected ligamentous injuries are examined. This information will be useful for detecting ligamentous injuries on MR images.
与标准二维傅里叶变换磁共振成像技术相比，三维傅里叶变换磁共振成像技术能够生成更薄的连续切片。其空间分辨率的提高以及交互式多平面显示的能力，使得诸如腕部韧带等小而复杂的解剖结构能够得到更好的可视化。本研究的目的有两个：（1）确定在使用三维傅里叶变换磁共振成像技术及多平面重建时，掌侧腕部韧带是否能够持续清晰显示；（2）评估25名无症状志愿者双腕掌侧腕部韧带的大小、形状、方向及左右对称性，为日后观察疑似韧带损伤患者时进行比较提供依据。
使用市售设备，采用三维傅里叶变换磁共振成像技术对25名无症状志愿者的双腕进行成像。利用三维图形工作站在主要掌侧腕部韧带的长轴上重建斜位二维图像。从重建的二维图像中确定韧带的大小、形状、方向及左右对称性。
在50个腕关节中，8条掌侧韧带中的6条在超过95%的情况下能够清晰显示：桡舟头韧带、桡月三角韧带、桡月韧带、尺月韧带、尺三角韧带及三角舟韧带。桡舟韧带和桡舟月韧带显示欠佳，分别仅在66%和26%的腕关节中可识别为韧带。
采用三维傅里叶变换磁共振成像技术及多平面重建能够持续清晰显示主要掌侧腕部韧带。掌侧腕部韧带通常左右两侧对称；因此，患者受伤腕部的磁共振图像可与对侧腕部的磁共振图像进行比较。本文所示掌侧腕部韧带的大小和形状可作为检查疑似韧带损伤患者时进行比较的依据。该信息对于在磁共振图像上检测韧带损伤将很有用。
