Magnetic resonance imaging clinics of North America
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A host of different pulse sequences has been applied to MR imaging of the spine. As the routine evaluation of the spine has become quite standardized, much of the recent development has resulted in minor refinements of this process. This article outlines the pulse sequences commonly used for routine MR imaging of the lumbar spine and provides a critique of the newer sequences and the modifications of the conventional techniques.
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The mechanisms involved in the generation of motion artifacts in MR imaging are complex and depend both on the type and direction of motion as well as on the parameters of the imaging sequence chosen. The methods used to control or reduce motion artifacts are multiple and the appropriate method for use with any given clinical situation will depend on the particular hardware and software of the MR imaging unit, the patient's clinical status, and the specific organ or disease state to be imaged. Some general guidelines for clinical use that are applicable in most scenarios can be defined, although preferences for the different techniques vary. ⋯ By understanding the principles underlying motion artifacts, one can choose the appropriate method of artifact control tailored for the individual clinical situation. In addition, the recognition of the variable appearances of motion artifacts will prevent interpretive errors and misdiagnoses. Careful attention to motion artifact reduction techniques can greatly improve patient care.
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Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · Feb 1999
ReviewMR imaging of knee anterior cruciate ligament and associated injuries in skiers.
Tears of the ACL have become widespread in the skiing population. Understanding of the mechanisms and patterns of associated injury of such ACL tears has benefited from and contributed greatly to clinical and imaging evaluation and management. MR imaging of the injured knee has become the gold standard comprehensive imaging examination for evaluating the ACL tear and associated soft-tissue and osseous injuries and assisting the treating physician in planning management, as the isolated ACL tear has proven to be the exception rather than the rule in skiing knee injuries.
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MR imaging has become the diagnostic modality of choice for the evaluation of traumatic ligamentous and tendinous injures of the foot and ankle, occult bony trauma, and osteochondral lesions of the talus. This article reviews the current applications of MR imaging for the evaluation of sports-related injuries of the foot and ankle, including fractures, sprains, tendon injuries, and heel pain.
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Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · Aug 1998
ReviewDifferential diagnosis of pediatric musculoskeletal masses.
MR imaging plays a major role in the evaluation of children with soft tissue and bone tumors. While the imaging characteristics of these lesions are often nonspecific, MR imaging provides valuable information on the extent of disease and relationship of tumors to the neurovascular bundle and other vital structures. This article reviews the radiographic and MR imaging appearances and clinical presentations of a wide range of musculoskeletal masses that occur in children.