[Quality rating of MRI regarding TFCC lesions in the clinical practice].

BACKGROUND: MRI diagnostic is used for wrist pain diagnostic frequently. Clinical studies in specialized centers show high sensitivity and specificity concerning TFCC lesions. The aim of this study is a comparison of MRI and arthroscopy regarding TFCC lesions not in a specialized but in a common medical environment. PATIENTS/
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively recorded all patients between January 2004 and April 2012 who went through a wrist arthroscopy and had a preoperative MRI. 401 patients were identified, 218 males and 183 females. The average age was 42.4 (12-84) years. 88 examiners of radiological practices in the region of our hospital reported the MRI results used for this research.
RESULTS: In 334 cases TFCC lesions could be identified during arthroscopy. MRI showed an average sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 60%. A Palmer classification was reported through MRI in 58 cases. Most frequently, the MRI examiners reported a Palmer 1b lesion. That result could only be verified by arthroscopy in 11 cases.
CONCLUSION: Although MRI has an acceptable degree of diagnostic test accuracy in controlled clinical studies, we do not recommend the general use of MRI in diagnosis of ulnocarpal wrist pain. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.