Optimal Protocol of MR Contrast Imaging in Diabetic Foot

Objective To identify the optimal protocol of MR contrast imaging in diabetic foot.Methods 20 patients with diabetic feet were enrolled and examined with 3D FLASH-MRA,3D VIBE-WE,2D SE-FS,2D TSE-FS and 2D FLASH-FS at a 1.5T MR scanner for vascular changes in feet.Their effectiveness in displaying blood vessels,venous aliasing and articular cartilage,as well as the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and contrast ratio(CR) of plantar skins calcaneus,flexor digitorum brevis,dorsal artery,and talocalcaneal joint cartilage in diabetic feet were compared.Results ① 3D FLASH-MRA was better in displaying blood vessels and venous aliasing than the others(P0.05);② 3D VIBE-WE was better in displaying articular cartilage than 2D SE-FS,2D TSE-FS and 2D FLASH-FS(P0.05);③ 3D VIBE-WE had higher SNR and CR of plantar skins,dorsal artery,talocalcaneal joint cartilage,calcaneus,and flexor digitorum brevis than the others(P0.05).Conclusion 3D VIBE-WE is the preferred sequence for T1 weighted imaging with contrast in diabetic feet.It can also serve as the supplemental sequence of 3D FLASH-MRA in MR angiography.