Objective: To determine whether the spatial resolution that can be achieved with currently available MR devices is adequate for the evaluation of skin disease.
Material and methods: We correlated high-resolution MR images of the skin with dermatohistopathology in 26 patients. The examinations were carried out on a 1.0 T imager using a commercially available surface coil (ID 7.5 cm) and optimized SE and GE sequences. Image quality was assessed by four readers on a questionnaire.
Results: The visualization of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle fascia allowed a pattern analysis that gave findings identical to those at dermatohistopathology. It was possible to distinguish septal from lobular panniculitis, and lipatrophia from sclerodermia. Images with contrast media infusion were useful in the differential diagnosis.
Conclusion: High-resolution MR imaging may narrow down the differential diagnosis of various skin diseases and may help to reduce the number of skin biopsies on certain indications.