MRA Used Most Often For Imaging of Shoulders, Hips

Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) examinations, particularly of the shoulder and hip, are performed more often in orthopaedic hospitals than in general hospitals, according to a study published in the journal European Radiology.

Researchers from Italy performed an online survey to determine the use of MRA in clinical practice. All 1,550 members of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) were sent 10-question surveys asking about their use of MRA in 2016.

A total of 148 responses were included in the findings. Among those who responded, there was a median of 3,000 musculoskeletal MR examinations and a median of 125.5 MRAs per institution. The ratio between MRA and musculoskeletal MR was 4.7 percent. The shoulder was the most investigated joint by MRA, followed by the hip (96.6 percent); 85.1 percent of the examinations were for the evaluation of instability of the labrum and rotator cuff.

Fluoroscopy was the preferred injection guidance. General hospitals more often used a self-prepared mixture of Gadolinium and saline, while orthopedic hospitals used mainly pre-diluted Gadolinium-based syringes. The number of MRAs performed at orthopedic hospitals was higher than that performed at general hospitals (284 compared to 115.50, respectively).

The researchers concluded that more MRA examinations were performed in orthopedic hospitals and the most commonly joints investigated by MRA were the shoulder and hip.