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Veterinary surgery : VS2022; 51(4); 648-657; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13798

Ex vivo comparison of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and multidetector computed tomography arthrography to identify artificial soft tissue lesions in equine stifles.

Abstract: To determine the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting artificial meniscal, meniscotibial ligament (MTL) lesions and cruciate ligament (CL) lesions in horses. Methods: Ex vivo controlled laboratory study. Methods: Nineteen stifles from adult horses. Methods: Stablike defects (n = 84) (16 mm long, 10 mm deep) were created in the menisci (n = 35), CLs (n = 24), and MTLs (n = 25) via arthroscopy prior to MRI and CTA (80 mL contrast at 85 mg/mL per joint). Two radiologists, unaware of the lesions, reached a consensus regarding the presence of lesions, based on 2 reviews of each study. Sensitivity and specificity of MRI and CTA were determined using arthroscopy as a reference and compared with McNemar's tests. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of MRI (41% and 86% respectively) and CTA (32% and 90% respectively) did not differ (P = .65). The sensitivity (MRI: 24%-50%; CTA:19%-40%) and specificity (MRI: 75%-92%; CTA 75%-100%) of imaging modalities did not differ when detecting lesions of the menisci, MTLs, and CLs (P = .1-1.0). The highest sensitivities were achieved when MTLs were evaluated with MRI (50%) and CLs with both modalities (40%). Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of CTA was comparable with that of MRI, with a low to moderate sensitivity and high specificity. Conclusions: Computed tomographic arthrography should be considered as an adjunct to diagnose CL injuries. This is important for equine clinicians, as the CL cannot be visualized adequately using basic imaging techniques preoperatively.
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-15 PubMed ID: 35289943PubMed Central: PMC9314790DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13798Google 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 study examines and compares the effectiveness of two types of imaging techniques – 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) – in detecting artificial soft tissue lesions in horse joints. The findings suggest that both methods have relatively low to moderate sensitivity but high specificity, indicating they are useful but not infallible tools for diagnosing such lesions.

Research Methods

  • The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, using 19 knee joints (stifles) from adult horses.
  • The scientists introduced stab-like defects into the joint tissues of the horses, specifically the menisci, cruciate ligaments (CLs), and meniscotibial ligaments (MTLs), via arthroscopy prior to imaging.
  • Each joint was then examined using both MRI and CTA imaging techniques. For the CTA method, an 80mL contrast was used at 85mg/mL per joint.
  • The images from each method were reviewed twice by two radiologists who were not aware of the artificial lesions, and they came to a consensus on the presence of lesions.

Results

  • Both MRI and CTA showed similar levels of sensitivity (41% and 32% respectively) and specificity (86% and 90% respectively) in detecting the artificial lesions. This means that while both techniques were quite accurate when a lesion was present, they had a relatively high chance (between 59% and 68%) of failing to detect a lesion.
  • Even when considering specific types of tissues (menisci, MTLs, CLs), the sensitivity and specificity of both methods remained the same.
  • The highest detection rates were achieved when MRI was used to evaluate MTLs (50%) and when both methods were used for CLs (40%).

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that the diagnostic performance of CTA was comparable to that of MRI, suggesting either could be used as a tool for diagnosing joint lesions in horses.
  • However, both methods demonstrated only low to moderate sensitivity, meaning that they could miss lesions in a significant proportion of cases.
  • The findings suggest that CTA could be particularly useful as an adjunct tool for diagnosing injuries to the cruciate ligament (CL), which is not adequately visualized using traditional preoperative imaging techniques.

Cite This Article

APA
Aßmann AD, Ohlerth S, Suárez Sánchez-Andráde J, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS. (2022). Ex vivo comparison of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and multidetector computed tomography arthrography to identify artificial soft tissue lesions in equine stifles. Vet Surg, 51(4), 648-657. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13798

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 4
Pages: 648-657

Researcher Affiliations

Aßmann, Anton D
  • Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Ohlerth, Stefanie
  • Diagnostic Imaging Clinic, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Suárez Sánchez-Andráde, José
  • Diagnostic Imaging Clinic, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Torgerson, Paul R
  • Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bischofberger, Andrea S
  • Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthrography / methods
  • Arthrography / veterinary
  • Arthroscopy / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Joint Diseases / veterinary
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stifle / diagnostic imaging

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this report.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Bolz NM, Sánchez-Andrade JS, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS. Diagnostic Performance of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Arthrography and 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Experimentally Created Articular Cartilage Lesions in Equine Cadaver Stifles. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 14;13(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13142304pubmed: 37508081google scholar: lookup
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