Keywords:
Musculoskeletal system, MR, Contrast agent-intravenous, Safety, Education and training
Authors:
A. Shah1, R. Botchu2; 1Leicester/UK, 2Birmingham/UK
DOI:
10.26044/essr2019/P-0090
Purpose
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the mainstay imaging modalities for musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging due to its superb inherent soft-tissue contrast,
spatial resolution,
and the ability to visualise and analyse both normal anatomic structures and pathologic processes.
MSK MRI can be broadly grouped into three categories of disease (1) tumour and tumour-like conditions (2) infection and (3) joint based pathology.
Gadolinium has been considered very safe with serious adverse risks predominately only associated with severe renal impairment.
Contrast enhanced MRI (CEMRI) has been demonstrated to have a role imaging soft tissue and bone lesions,
infective processes and joint pathology for example for synovitis or MR arthrogram.
However,
the use of gadolinium does not always give a diagnostic value nor change patient management.
Gadolinium is excreted by the kidneys,
however,
there is mounting evidence of trace amounts of gadolinium retention within the body,
namely within bones and deep nuclei of the brain.
The risks and clinical implications of this,
if any,
is currently unknown with no data available in human beings or animals to show adverse clinical effects due to the gadolinium deposition in the brain.
With this knowledge,
it is important for Radiologists to be aware of gadolinium deposition and taken alongside the controversial benefit of CEMRI in MSK imaging,
caution and greater thought should be applied before justifying gadolinium administration.
The aim of this poster is to describe the current practices of British and International MSK Radiologists on the use of gadolinium for extra-spinal MSK MRI imaging.
We present the results along with discussing the role of contrast enhanced MRI in MSK imaging.