Chemical-shift micro-imaging of subcutaneous lesions

A chemical-shift imaging technique was used for the study of small subcutaneous lesions. This study concerns micro-imaging of two females suffering from a tenosynovial giant cell tumor and an epidermal cyst. High-resolution water, fat and chemical-shift artifact-free images were obtained on a whole-body MR unit (1.5 T) equipped with a 23-mm microscopy surface coil and standard gradients (23 mT/m). A significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by reducing the receiver bandwidth to values below +/-10 kHz. The image data sets were acquired with resolution 0.1 x 0.13 mm in the plane, slice thickness 0.5 mm and with acquisition time less than 3 min. Spatial resolution, fat suppression, image texture and edge delineation were improved on spectroscopic images compared with those on conventional MR images.

Entrapment of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the middle finger. Case report

Locking of the second metacarpal joint is common, but locking of other metacarpal joints is unusual. We present a case, in which the joint of the third finger locked and the mechanism was an osteophyte catching of the ulnar accessory collateral ligament. In such a case, the joint should be explored through a palmar approach. Conservative treatment is not recommended.