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Abstract
Musculskeletal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications are making the transition rapidly from 1.5 tesla (T) to 3T. The higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that is available with a 3T MRI system allows for greater spatial resolution and provides the potential to improve the diagnostic capability of musculoskeletal MRI. With the use of 3T systems, one can enhance the SNR, spatial resolution, and contrast-to-noise ratio of intrinsic joint structures such as osseous, tendinous, cartilaginous, and ligamentous structures, which makes them more discernable and amenable to proper radiologic assessment. The SNR gain and coil technology advances allow for a smaller voxel-size and parallel imaging, reducing the acquisition time without significant signal loss. Three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo sequences with isotropic resolution reduce partial volume artifacts through the acquisition of thin continuous sections and enable free 3D-multiplanar-reformatting without loss of image quality. This technique may be a promising method to replace currently used 2D sequences in clinical practice. In addition to current clinical applications, 3T MRI will contribute to the development of new molecular and functional MRI techniques.
Figures and Tables
Figure 1
Coronal 3 tesla magnetic resonance images of knee in 69-year-old women show surgically confirmed avulsive tear of posterior root of medial meniscus. 2D coronal intermediateweighted image (A) shows faint intermediate signal intensity (arrow) in posterior medial meniscal root. However, definitely bandlike area of high signal intensity (arrow) is noted in posterior medial meniscal root on reformatted coronal image of 3D space isotropic intermediate-weighted density (B).
Figure 2
A 37-year-old man with focal cartilage defect and subchondral fracture in lateral tibial plateau. 2D coronal intermediate-weighted image (A) and reformatted coronal image of 3D isotropic intermediate-weighted sequence (B) of the knee demonstrate focal chondromalacia (arrow) clearly at 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging.
Figure 3
A 22-year-old woman with osteonecrosis of right femoral head and secondary osteoarthritis. Fat-suppressed, coronal intermediate-weighted image at 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging shows well diffuse irregularity of hyaline cartilage within the hip joint due to secondary osteoarthritis.
Figure 4
A 20-year-old man with healing process of subchondral insufficiency fracture at bilateral femoral heads. Coronal T1 VIBE images of both hip joints demonstrate normal acetabular labrum (arrow) within right hip joint (A) and deformed and detached labrum (arrow) of left hip joint (B).
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