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Use of MR arthrography in detecting tears of the ligamentum teres with arthroscopic correlation

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Abstract

Objective

To demonstrate the normal appearance of the ligamentum teres on MR arthrography (MRA) and evaluate the accuracy of MRA in detecting ligamentum teres tears with arthroscopic correlation.

Materials and methods

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained with a waiver for informed consent because of the retrospective study design. A total of 165 cases in 159 patients (111 females, 48 males; mean age 41 ± 12 years) who underwent both MRA and hip arthroscopy were evaluated for appearance of the ligamentum teres, including the size, number of bundles, and ligamentum teres tears. Marrow edema of the fovea capitis adjacent to the ligamentum teres insertion and the presence of hip plicae were also recorded.

Results

The mean thickness and length of the ligamentum teres were 3.5 ± 1.5 mm and 25.2 ± 3.8 mm, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy of MRA for the detection of ligamentum teres tears were 78, 97, 74, 97, and 95 %, respectively.

Conclusion

MRA is an accurate method to evaluate the normal morphology and to detect tears of the ligamentum teres.

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Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey 6E, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Connie Y. Chang, Corey M. Gill, Ambrose J. Huang, Frank J. Simeone, Martin Torriani & Miriam A. Bredella

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Joseph C. McCarthy

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  1. Connie Y. Chang
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  2. Corey M. Gill
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  7. Miriam A. Bredella
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Correspondence to Connie Y. Chang.

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Chang, C.Y., Gill, C.M., Huang, A.J. et al. Use of MR arthrography in detecting tears of the ligamentum teres with arthroscopic correlation. Skeletal Radiol 44, 361–367 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-2082-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-2082-4

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