Evaluation of the contribution of VIBE sequence to diagnosis in detection of cartilage defects accompanying glenoid labral pathologies in shoulder mr arthrography

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare conventional and T1 volumetric magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) methods with computed tomography arthrography (CTA) and investigate its contribution to the diagnosis and staging of glenoid cartilage defects accompanying labrum pathologies. Materials and Methods: Between November 2021 and May 2022, MRA and CTA were performed on 79 patients who were thought to have labrum pathology based on anamnesis, physical examination and shoulder conventional MRI findings. CTA images were evaluated by a radiologist experienced in the field of musculoskeletal radiology, and conventional MRA and T1 volumetric MRA were evaluated independently by two separate radiologists, and the presence of glenoid cartilage defect, if any, its stage and localization were determined. Defects in the glenoid cartilage, which was divided into nine different regions, were divided into 3 groups according to the stage. Cartilage defect was categorized as less than 50% (stage 1), more than 50% but no bone involvement (stage 2), and bone involvement with full thickness cartilage defect (stage 3). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy ratio were calculated separately for conventional and T1 volumetric MRA. Results: Conventional and T1 volumetric MRA examinations obtained from a total of 79 cases, 58 male and 21 female, were included in the study. Cartilage defect was detected in 48 (60.75%) of CTAs of 79 cases with glenoid labrum pathology. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of conventional MRA were 17%-19%, 100%-%100, 49%-51%, respectively, and the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of volumetric MRA was 58%-65%, 90%-97%, 71%-77%, respectively. Interobserver agreement was perfect for diagnosis and localization in both conventional MRA and T1 volumetric MRA. Conclusion: We demonstrated that T1 volumetric MRA accurately diagnoses cartilage defects accompanying glenoid labrum pathology, with high sensitivity and specificity, and perfect interobserver agreement. Key Words: Artrography, Chondral Defect, Computed Tomography, Glenoid Labrum, Magnetic Resonance Artrography, Shoulder, VIBE