Anterior cruciate ligament tear: prospective evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of middle- and high-field-strength MR imaging at 1.5 and 0.5 T.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the diagnostic efficacy of current-generation middle- and high-field-strength magnetic resonance (MR) imagers in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.


METHODS
In 114 of 230 patients referred for knee imaging, MR imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 T was performed with identical sequences but with a slightly longer total imaging time and bandwidth optimization at 0.5 T. Radiologists were blinded to diagnosis and field strength. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were determined, and ACL tear was confirmed by means of arthroscopy and pathology.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the field strengths in accuracy, sensitivity, or specificity for the diagnosis of ACL tears in 86 patients with disrupted ACLs and 28 patients with intact ACLs. Accuracy for all ACL tears was 90% at 0.5 T and 91% at 1.5 T. Similarly, there were no differences in diagnosis of meniscal tears (79 with, 149 without) or posterior cruciate ligament tears (seven with, 107 without).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher field strength does not confer higher accuracy in the diagnosis of ACL tears at MR imaging.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012421:Rupture; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity