Joint MRI with Contrast

A contrast-enhanced MRI examination of a single joint — shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle. Evaluates ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and surrounding soft tissues with enhanced visualisation of inflammatory or vascular changes.

Contrast-enhanced joint MRI provides superior visualisation of intra-articular structures compared to non-contrast protocols, particularly for detecting synovitis, labral tears, ligament injuries, and early cartilage degeneration. The gadolinium contrast agent highlights areas of increased vascularity and inflammation that may appear normal on standard sequences. The examination covers the full anatomy of the selected joint: for the knee this includes the cruciate and collateral ligaments, menisci, articular cartilage, and patellar tendon; for the shoulder it encompasses the rotator cuff, labrum, biceps tendon, and acromioclavicular joint. The scan takes approximately 45 minutes and is available at both the Vision Towers and Eiffel Clinic locations. A physician referral is required for contrast-enhanced examinations. Patients need recent kidney function test results (creatinine and eGFR) to confirm safe contrast administration. The radiologist report provides measurements, grading of any pathology, and comparisons to prior imaging where available.