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Shoulder disease is a common cause of forelimb lameness in dogs. Determining the precise underlying cause of shoulder lameness can be challenging, especially in veterinary practice. Computerized tomography (CT) is often the preferred imaging modality for bone evaluation; however, it uses ionizing radiation and provides limited soft tissue contrast. Conversely, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers excellent soft tissue contrast but has limitations in bone imaging. This study aimed to introduce a new technical innovation that enhances cortical and trabecular bone contrast on MRI, which we refer to as Fast Field Echo Resembling a CT Using Restricted Echo-Spacing (FRACTURE). In this prospective pilot study, we aimed to evaluate the use of FRACTURE, CT, and conventional MRI sequences in assessing the normal canine shoulder using a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Five research beagle dogs were included, and the following pulse sequences were acquired for each dog (1): three-dimensional (3D) FRACTURE, (2) T2-weighted (T2W) images using 3D turbo spin echo (TSE), (3) T1-weighted (T1W) images using 3D TSE, (4) PD-weighted (PDW) images using 3D TSE, and (5) CT. Various parameters, including the delineation of cortical bone (intertubercular groove, greater tubercle, and lesser tubercle), conspicuity of the trabecular bone, shoulder joint visualization, and image quality, were measured for each dog and sequence. In all sequences, the shoulder joint was successfully visualized in all planes with mild motion artifacts. The intertubercular groove was best visualized on CT and FRACTURE. Both the greater and lesser tubercles were easily identified on the CT, FRACTURE, and PDW images. The trabecular pattern scored significantly higher in the CT and FRACTURE images compared to the T1W, T2W, and PDW images. Overall, the visualization of the shoulder joint was excellent in all sequences except for T1W. The use of FRACTURE in combination with conventional MRI sequences holds promise for facilitating not only soft tissue evaluation but also cortical and trabecular bone assessment. The findings from this study in normal dogs can serve as a foundation for further FRACTURE studies in dogs with shoulder diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of a new MRI sequence, CT-like fast field echo with limited echo-spacing (FRACTURE), in diagnosing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis compared with routine MRI TMJ sequences., Methods: The study sample comprised 76 patients (152 joints) who underwent MRI and CT examinations to diagnose TMJ disorders. Two specialists in oral and maxillofacial radiology assessed the bony changes of the TMJ on FRACTURE, proton density-weighted (PDw), and fat-suppression T2-weighted (T2wFS) sequences. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted for each sequence, and the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Additionally, the interobserver agreement (Cohen's kappa value) and sensitivity in assessing each osteoarthritis finding were calculated for each sequence., Results: The FRACTURE sequence had the highest diagnostic performance, with an accuracy of 0.85, sensitivity of 0.85, specificity of 0.84, and AUC of 0.84. These values were 0.84, 0.72, 0.91, and 0.80, respectively, for the PDw sequence, and 0.83, 0.72, 0.91, and 0.79, respectively, for the T2wFS sequence. The AUC did not significantly differ between the FRACTURE and PDw sequences (Delong test, P > .05), but did significantly differ between the FRACTURE and T2wFS sequences (P < .05). For all osteoarthritis findings, the FRACTURE sequence had the highest kappa values and the highest sensitivity., Conclusions: FRACTURE sequencing may be a promising tool for the diagnosis of TMJ osteoarthritis compared with other conventional sequences., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Institute of Radiology and the International Association of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)