Evaluation of the triangular fibrocartilage and the scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments in cadavers with low-field- strength extremity-only magnet: Comparison of available imaging sequences and macroscopic findings

RATIONALE and OBJECTIVES. The authors assessed the ability of a low- field-strength extremity-only magnet to provide visualization of the triangular fibrocartilage and the scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments. METHODS. Twelve human wrists were examined with a 0.2 T extremity-only magnet. T1-weighted spin echo, proton density-weighted, and T2-weighted turbo spin echo, short-tau inversion recovery, and three-dimensional gradient recalled echo images were acquired, and sections of the specimens were then made that corresponded to the magnetic resonance images. Masked imaging analyses were correlated with macroscopic and limited histopathologic findings. RESULTS. Low-field-strength extremity-only magnet allowed consistent visualization of the triangular fibrocartilage and accurate assessment of a small number of complete tears of the triangular fibrocartilage. The scapholunate ligaments in all cases were identified using a combination of imaging sequences. Consistent visualization of the lunotriquetral ligament with a low-field-strength extremity magnet was difficult. CONCLUSIONS. Magnetic resonance imaging with a low-field-strength extremity-only magnet can be used to visualize the triangular fibrocartilage and the scapholunate ligament, but not the lunotriquetral ligament.