The principle of these examinations is to inject a contrast agent into the joint, allowing a better appreciation, especially of cartilage, ligaments and tendons.
In joints like the shoulder or the hip, other intra-articular structures such as the labrum can be more precisely investigated.
MR-arthrography and CT-arthrography take place in 2 steps :
- injection of a contrast agent into the joint (arthrography), usually performed under fluoroscopic guidance ( X-ray device)
- the second part of the examination is the MR or the CT scan itself, which is thus combined with the arthrography.