To evaluate the critical range of the patellofemoral joint motion from 30 degrees of knee flexion to full extension, motion-triggered cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed during active extension in 13 patients with confirmed patellar maltracking and 15 healthy subjects. Cine MR images were compared with static MR images obtained during incremental extension of the knee joint. To evaluate the patellar tracking pattern, the same imaging parameters (patellar tilt angle, bisect offset, and lateral patellar displacement) and section locations were used in the static and motion-triggered studies. Statistically significant differences between the passive and active knee motions were found in all three parameters in the group of patients and in the bisect offset in the control group. The comparison between patients and healthy subjects yielded statistically significant differences for all parameters in actively extended knees but not in passively extended knees. The results demonstrate the importance of dynamic patellar motion studies for diagnosis of patello-femoral maltracking.

MR imaging accurately depicts the compartmentlike distribution of signal intensity abnormalities in patients with ITBFS.

Compared with the results of previous studies using functional cervical myelograms, kinematic magnetic resonance imaging provides additional noninvasive data concerning the physiologic changes of the cervical subarachnoid space and the cervical cord during flexion and extension in healthy individuals.

Findings at high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of the ankle were compared with findings in anatomic sections from cadavers. MR imaging of six cadaveric feet was performed with a newly developed local gradient coil and axial and coronal T1-weighted spin-echo sequences. Axial imaging provided optimum views of the anterior and posterior talofibular ligaments, the deep layers of the medial collateral ligament, and the tibionavicular ligament. Coronal imaging allowed complete visualization of the calcaneofibular, posterior talofibular, tibiocalcaneal, and posterior tibiotalar ligaments. In both imaging planes, differentiation of the deep and superficial layers of the medial collateral ligament was possible. Differentiation between the syndesmotic complex and the lateral collateral ligament was accomplished easily; in particular, differentiation of the posterior tibiofibular ligament from the posterior talofibular ligament was not difficult because of the differing insertions of these ligaments. The inhomogeneous appearance of the medial collateral ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament on MR images correlated with areas of fatty tissue on corresponding microscopic sections. High-resolution MR imaging with a newly developed local gradient coil allows excellent visualization of the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of the ankle.

A prospective study correlating high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), lung function tests (PFT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifty-three RA patients with suspected ILD (19 men, 34 women) underwent 71 HRCT (14 of 53 with sequential HRCT, mean follow-up 24.3 months). The HRCT evaluation by two observers on consensus included a semi-quantitative characterisation of lesion pattern and profusion on representative anatomical levels. Fifty-two HRCT were followed by PFT and BAL. Agreement or discordance of HRCT-, PFT- and BAL findings were analysed with Pearson's correlation, kappa score and McNemar's test. Tobacco-fume exposure was estimated in pack years. Smoking/non-smoking groups were compared with Student's t test. In 49 of 53 patients, HRCT was suggestive of ILD associated with RA (66 of 71 HRCT). Reticular lesions were found in 40 of 53 patients, in 15 of 40 presenting as mixed pattern with ground-glass opacities (GGO). Pure reticular patterns predominated in patients with long duration of ILD (p>0.01). Pure GGO were not observed. Lesion profusion was highly variable and correlated moderately negative with diffusion capacity (mean 88.2% (SD +/- 20.9%); r=-0.54; p<0.001) and very weak with vital capacity and FEV1 (mean values 92.2% (SD +/- 18.3%); r=-0.27; p<0.05 and 89.8% (SD +/- 17.5%); r=-0.31; p<0.01). In patients with GGO, BAL differentials tended towards neutrophilia (kappa=0.39; p=0.04; McNemar test p>0.2), but not towards lymphocytosis (kappa=0.10; p=0.23; McNemar test p>0.2). Differences in smoking history were not significant (p>0.1). The HRCT appears most appropriate for the detection and follow-up of ILD associated with RA. The PFT and BAL correlate only partially with lesion profusion or grading on HRCT, but they contribute valuable information about dynamic lung function and differential diagnoses (pneumonia, medication side effects).