title: Meniscal abnormalities of the knee: 3DFT fast-scan GRASS MR imaging.
abstract: The ability to use fast-scan techniques to obtain MR images without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy is a desirable goal in MR imaging. We describe a series of patients in whom fast-scan MR imaging was found to be equal to conventional spin-echo imaging in the detection and characterization of meniscal abnormalities. Thirty-five patients with suspected meniscal tears were studied with fast-scan imaging (3DFT-GRASS), and the results were compared with those of conventional spin-echo imaging. Three-millimeter contiguous sections through the entire knee were obtained in 5 min by using the 3DFT-GRASS technique. 3DFT-GRASS and spin-echo images agreed in all cases regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality and its degree of severity. We conclude that fast-scan 3DFT-GRASS MR imaging is useful when screening the knee for the presence of meniscal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Medical Imaging, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Haggar
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Froelich
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Hearshen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sadasivan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries