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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Does Direct MRI Tenography Improve the Diagnostic Performanc...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(24); 3772; doi: 10.3390/ani13243772

Does Direct MRI Tenography Improve the Diagnostic Performance of Low-Field MRI to Identify Artificially Created Soft-Tissue Lesions within the Equine Cadaveric Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath?

Abstract: Tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is diagnosed using ultrasonography and contrast tenography. Nevertheless, making a precise preoperative diagnosis is challenging. This study aimed to determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of low-field MRI and MRI tenography (MRIt) to detect artificially created soft-tissue lesions in the DFTS. In 21 DFTSs, 118 lesions were made tenoscopically in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), manica flexoria (MF) and proximal scutum. MRI and MRI, following intrathecal gadolinium administration (MRIt), were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI and MRIt were calculated and compared. Proximal scutum lesions were less frequently identified by MRI (Sensitivity 38%, specificity 96%) compared to MRIt (Sensitivity: 50%, = 0.80; specificity: 96%, = 1). This was similar for SDFT lesions (Sensitivity: 39% versus 54%, = 0.72; specificity: 93% versus 96%, = 1). MRI detected DDFT lesions (sensitivity 34%; specificity 100%) better than MRIt (sensitivity 32%, = 0.77; specificity 98%, = 1). This was similar for MF lesions (MRI sensitivity 61%; specificity 100% vs. MRIt sensitivity 50%, = 0.68; specificity 96%, = 1). Lesion size was significantly associated with MRI or MRIt diagnosis ( = 0.001). The intrathecal administration of gadolinium did not significantly improve the ability of low-field MRI to diagnose artificial DFTS tendon lesions. Small lesion length was a significant discriminating factor for lesion detection. MRI and MRIt specificity were high, thus being helpful in diagnosing an intact structure.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-07 PubMed ID: 38136809PubMed Central: PMC10740514DOI: 10.3390/ani13243772Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research assesses if combining MRI tenography with a standard MRI can enhance diagnosis capacity for artificially created lesions in the digital flexor tendon sheath of horses. The findings suggest that MRI enhanced with gadolinium does not significantly improve the diagnosis of such tendon lesions, though both techniques show high specificity in diagnosing healthy tendon structure.

Research Context and Aim

  • The study is based on the challenge encountered in diagnosing tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) in horses. The conventional method used for diagnosis is a combination of ultrasonography and contrast tenography.
  • The researchers’ objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of standard low-field MRI and MRI enhanced with intrathecal gadolinium (known as MRI tenography) in detecting artificially created soft-tissue lesions in a horse’s DFTS.

Methods

  • The researchers artificially created 118 lesions within the DFTS of 21 equine cadavers using a method called tenoscopy. The created lesions were spread over various components: the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), manica flexoria (MF), and proximal scutum.
  • After creating the lesions, both standard MRI and MRI tenography were performed on each DFTS. MRI tenography was done following the administration of gadolinium into the sheath.
  • The accuracy of both MRI methods in identifying these artificially created lesions was then compared.

Findings

  • The results showed that the use of gadolinium in MRI tenography did not significantly enhance the ability to diagnose the artificially created DFTS tendon lesions compared to the standard MRI.
  • However, both techniques demonstrated high specificity in diagnosing an unblemished structure. This means that they are highly accurate in identifying a tendon sheath that is not damaged.
  • The size of the lesion was a significant determinant in its detection. Small lesions were harder to detect regardless of the MRI method used.

Implications

  • Although the gadolinium-enhanced MRI tenography did not improve the detection of tendon lesions, it proved useful in confirming the integrity of the horse’s tendon sheath.
  • The results indicated that both diagnosis techniques have limitations in detecting small lesions. Medical practitioners, therefore, need to be aware of these limitations when diagnosing tenosynovitis in horses, as small lesions could be overlooked.

Cite This Article

APA
Aßmann A, Ohlerth S, Hartmann S, Torgerson P, Bischofberger A. (2023). Does Direct MRI Tenography Improve the Diagnostic Performance of Low-Field MRI to Identify Artificially Created Soft-Tissue Lesions within the Equine Cadaveric Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath? Animals (Basel), 13(24), 3772. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13243772

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 24
PII: 3772

Researcher Affiliations

Aßmann, Anton
  • Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Ohlerth, Stefanie
  • Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Hartmann, Silvana
  • Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Torgerson, Paul
  • Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Bischofberger, Andrea
  • Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

Grant Funding

  • Loriot Research Fund

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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