Validation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Use in Equine Limbs

To have confidence in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of the equine limb, validation of the procedures involved in image acquisition and interpretation is required. It is also important to understand the benefits and limitations of MR imaging by comparison with the macroscopic and microscopic structural abnormalities present within the tissues. This paper outlines various validation procedures that we have undertaken for image acquisition, image interpretation and measurement of structures, and comparison between MR images, macroscopic and histological examination of the equine foot, tarsal, and carpal tissues.