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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease
Published on: December 18, 2016
Quantitative MRI assessment of joint effusion using T2-relaxometry at 3 Tesla: a feasibility and reproducibility
Flora H P van Leeuwen1, Beatrice Lena2, Eline D P van Bergen3
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Division of Imaging & Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HP: E01.132, P.O. Box 85500, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. f.h.p.vanleeuwen-7@umcutrecht.nl.
Objective:
T2-relaxometry could differentiate between physiological and haemorrhagic joint effusion (≥ 5% blood) in vitro. Are quantitative T2-relaxation time measurements of synovial fluid feasible and reproducible in vivo in clinically bleed-free joints of men with haemophilia?
Materials And Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, we measured T2-relaxation times of synovial fluid in clinically bleed-free ankles, knees or elbows of men with severe haemophilia A using a T2-mapping sequence (duration ≤ 7 min) at 3 Tesla MRI. Manual and circular regions of interest (ROI) were drawn in the synovial fluid of each joint by two independent observers to measure T2-relaxation times. Measurement feasibility was expressed as the success rate of the measurements by both observers. The interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of the measurements were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient of absolute agreement (ICC) and the limits of agreement (LoA) from Bland Altman analysis.
Results:
We evaluated 39 clinically bleed-free joints (11 ankles, 12 knees, 16 elbows) of 39 men (median age, 24 years; range 17-33) with severe haemophilia A. The success rate of the T2-measurements was ≥ 90%. Interobserver reliability was good to excellent (manual ROI: ICC = 0.92, 95% CI 0.76-0.97; circular ROI: ICC = 0.82, 95% CI 0.66-0.91) and interobserver agreement was adequate (manual ROI: LoA = 71 ms; circular ROI: LoA = 146 ms). Intraobserver reliability was good to excellent (manual ROI: ICC = 0.78, 95% CI - 0.06-0.94; circular RO: ICC = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) and intraobserver agreement was good (manual ROI: LoA = 63 ms; circular ROI: LoA = 41 ms).
Conclusion:
T2-relaxometry of synovial fluid in haemophilia patients is feasible with good interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility.
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