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

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo 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.STUDY DESIGNEx vivo controlled laboratory study.ANIMALSNineteen stifles from adult horses.METHODSStablike 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.RESULTSThe 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%).CONCLUSIONSThe diagnostic performance of CTA was comparable with that of MRI, with a low to moderate sensitivity and high specificity.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEComputed 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.