Hemodialysis-related arthropathy. A prospective MR study with SE and GRE sequences.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

A prospective examination of hemodialysis-related arthropathy by MR imaging with SE and GRE sequences was undertaken to verify whether the low signal intensity on T2-weighted SE images is caused by a paramagnetic susceptibility effect derived from amyloid or from hemosiderin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Twenty-seven joints (19 hip joints, 6 discovertebral joints of 5 lumbosacral spines and 1 cervical spine, 2 shoulder joints) in 14 patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis (duration 10-22 years, mean 17) were examined with SE T1-weighted, T2-weighted and GRE T2*-weighted sequences.

RESULTS:

The signal intensity of the intraarticular and periarticular masses of the involved joints was basically isointense to the muscle in all 3 pulse sequences. No significantly low signal area was found on GRE T2*-weighted images.

CONCLUSION:

The low signal areas in the hemodialysis-related arthropathy on SE T2-weighted images are not caused by a paramagnetic susceptibility effect, but probably by the hypocellular and fibrous nature of amyloid-containing tissues. Therefore the GRE sequence can be helpful for differentiating hemodialysis-related amyloid arthropathy from chronic hemarthrosis or juxta-articular brown tumor.

• Authors: O Karakida, J Aoki, Y Kanno, T Watanabe, K Tamura, G S Seo, S Sone
• Journal: Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987) (Acta Radiol) Vol. 38 Issue 1 Pg. 158-64 (Jan 1997) ISSN: 0284-1851 [Print] England
• PMID: 9059421 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Humans
• Joint Diseases (diagnosis, etiology)
• Joints (pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (instrumentation, methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)
• Spinal Diseases (diagnosis, etiology)
• Spine (pathology)