PMC3246299_01
STIR images showing an evident signal decrease from the joint cavity between baseline and day two, corresponding to a reduced joint effusion. The effusion in the images is marked with an asterix (*).
ARTH2011-578252.001.jpg
PMC3246299_01_ARTH2011-578252.001.jpg
fig1
The conventional static imaging data was displayed using an AGFA PACS system (Figures 1 and 4(c)-4(d)). The STIR sequence (Figure 1) was used to evaluate the bone marrow and effusion.  After the movement correction and the fully automatic analysis of the knee joint was performed, several regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn (Figures 3 and 4): (1) a fast rough box ROI around the anterior part of the knee including the synovial membrane and excluding the major vessels; (2) a box ROI around the popliteal artery in the posterior part of the knee; (3) an oval ROI within the semimembraneous muscle (Figure 4(a)).
Parametric maps derived from the same DCE-MRI dataset reflecting the Gadolinium behaviour and distribution over time (Gd), maximum enhancement (ME), initial rate of enhancement (IRE), and time onset of enhancement (T-onset). The maps are derived from the baseline images of the case study representing a flair of moderate arthritis activity of the knee. Note the pulsation artefacts of the popliteal artery that give false "hot" points in the image related to a horizontal line of the artery.
ARTH2011-578252.002.jpg
PMC3246299_01_ARTH2011-578252.002.jpg
fig2
The conventional static imaging data was displayed using an AGFA PACS system (Figures 1 and 4(c)-4(d)). In the ME and IRE maps, the most active contrast enhancing voxels are displayed in white to yellow colours, whereas tissues with less perfusion/inflammation are reddish (Figure 2).
A rough ROI outlining the anterior part of the knee in the dynamic image guided by the ME maps and their corresponding dynamic curves from baseline through day 7 (a-d). Note the decrease of enhancing voxels in the parametric map over time as well as a simultaneous decrease of the slope in the corresponding dynamic enhancement curves. The Y-axis of the enhancement curves shows the intensity increase from baseline, and the X-axis shows the acquisition time in seconds.
ARTH2011-578252.003.jpg
PMC3246299_01_ARTH2011-578252.003.jpg
fig3
The conventional static imaging data was displayed using an AGFA PACS system (Figures 1 and 4(c)-4(d)).  After the movement correction and the fully automatic analysis of the knee joint was performed, several regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn (Figures 3 and 4): (1) a fast rough box ROI around the anterior part of the knee including the synovial membrane and excluding the major vessels; (2) a box ROI around the popliteal artery in the posterior part of the knee; (3) an oval ROI within the semimembraneous muscle (Figure 4(a)).
Parametric maps derived from DCE-MRI data maximum enhancement (ME) (a, b) and the corresponding static postcontrast 3D T1-w gradient echo images (c, d) from baseline and day 2. Arrows pointing at the enhancing synovial membrane in the post contrast images (c, d). Examples of the applied ROIs are shown in red in (a) representing the synovial ROI in front of the knee, the popliteal artery ROI behind the knee, and the muscle ROI (oval circle).
ARTH2011-578252.004.jpg
PMC3246299_01_ARTH2011-578252.004.jpg
fig4
The conventional static imaging data was displayed using an AGFA PACS system (Figures 1 and 4(c)-4(d)).  After the movement correction and the fully automatic analysis of the knee joint was performed, several regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn (Figures 3 and 4): (1) a fast rough box ROI around the anterior part of the knee including the synovial membrane and excluding the major vessels; (2) a box ROI around the popliteal artery in the posterior part of the knee; (3) an oval ROI within the semimembraneous muscle (Figure 4(a)). T1-w gradient echo images over time after intra-articular steroid injection are displayed in Figure 4. These maps serve as a guide to visually evaluate the effect of the steroid injection from baseline through day 7.