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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(15); 2250; doi: 10.3390/ani15152250

Does Low-Field MRI Tenography Improve the Detection of Naturally Occurring Manica Flexoria Tears in Horses?

Abstract: Diagnosing digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) pathologies, particularly manica flexoria (MF) tears, can be challenging with standard imaging modalities. Standing low-field MRI tenography (MRIt) may improve the detection rate of MF tears. This study aimed to compare ultrasonography, contrast radiography, pre-contrast MRI, and MRIt to detect naturally occurring MF lesions in horses undergoing tenoscopy. Ten horses with a positive DFTS block, which underwent contrast radiography, ultrasonography, MRI, MRIt, and tenoscopy were included. Two radiologists evaluated the images and recorded whether an MF lesion was present and determined the lesion side. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each modality using tenoscopy as a reference. MRIt and contrast radiography detected MF lesions with the same frequency, both showing 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pre-contrast MRI and ultrasonography detected MF lesions with a lower sensitivity (57%); however, the MRI (100%) demonstrated a higher specificity than ultrasonography (33%). Adding contrast in MRI changed the sensitivity from (4/7 lesions) 57% to (5/7 lesions) 71%, with a constant high specificity (100%). MRIt diagnoses MF tears with a similar sensitivity to contrast radiography, with the same specificity, but with the added benefit of lesion laterality detection. The combined advantages of the anatomical detail of the T1 sequence and the post-contrast hyperintense appearance of the fluid may help diagnose MF tears and identify intact MFs. However, this needs to be substantiated in a larger number of cases.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-31 PubMed ID: 40805040PubMed Central: PMC12345494DOI: 10.3390/ani15152250Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigates the effectiveness of standing low-field MRI tenography (MRIt) in detecting manica flexoria (MF) tears, a type of tendinitis, in horses. The findings suggest that it could be a feasible tool for this purpose, offering similar sensitivity and specificity to contrast radiography, but with additional advantages, such as the detection of tear location.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different imaging modalities – ultrasonography, contrast radiography, pre-contrast MRI, and MRI tenography (MRIt) – in detecting naturally occurring MF lesions in horses.
  • Ten horses with a positive digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) block, which had undergone contrast radiography, ultrasonography, MRI and MRIt, were included in the study. These techniques were compared with tenoscopy, a type of surgery, which was used as the reference.
  • Images were evaluated by two radiologists who assessed the presence and location of MF lesions.

Key Findings

  • The research indicates that MRIt and contrast radiography detected MF lesions with equivalent frequency, each with 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
  • Pre-contrast MRI and ultrasonography showed a lower sensitivity, identifying MF lesions only 57% of the time.
  • However, the specificity of MRI (100%) was higher than that of ultrasonography (33%), indicating a low rate of false positive results for MRI.
  • When contrast was added in MRI, the sensitivity increased from 57% to 71%, without affecting the high specificity observed.

Implications and Conclusion

  • MRIt was found to diagnose MF tears with similar sensitivity to contrast radiography, with equivalent specificity, but with the added advantage of being able to detect lesion laterality (side location).
  • The combination of the anatomical detail provided by the T1 sequence and the contrast-enhanced appearance of the fluid in MRIt images could improve the diagnosis of MF tears and identification of intact MFs.
  • Despite these promising results, the authors acknowledge the need for further validation in a larger set of cases.

Cite This Article

APA
Aßmann AD, Sànchez-Andrade JS, Argüelles D, Bischofberger AS. (2025). Does Low-Field MRI Tenography Improve the Detection of Naturally Occurring Manica Flexoria Tears in Horses? Animals (Basel), 15(15), 2250. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152250

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 15
PII: 2250

Researcher Affiliations

Aßmann, Anton D
  • Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Sànchez-Andrade, José Suàrez
  • Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Argüelles, David
  • Equine Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Cordoba, 14001 Cordoba, Spain.
Bischofberger, Andrea S
  • Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no personal interests to declare.

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