title: Low-field versus high-field MR imaging of the knee: a comparison of signal behaviour and diagnostic performance.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken to compare MR imaging of the knee obtained with low-field and high-field systems. In 10 subjects, MR imaging of the knee was performed on a 0.2 T permanent magnet and on a 1.5 T superconductive system. Similar spin echo (SE) and 3D-FISP (3D Fourier transform with steady state precession) acquisitions were obtained. Comparative image analysis was performed independently by four radiologists. Results show that the image quality and diagnostic performance delivered by state-of-the-art 0.2 T and 1.5 T systems is equivalent. Advantages of the 1.5 T system included: better signal-to-noise ratio, shorter scan times, better visualization of asymptomatic grade 1 meniscal degeneration on SE images. Advantages of 0.2 T images were: decreased chemical shift, susceptibility and flow artifacts, improved evaluation of subchondral bone on 3D-FISP images, slightly better patient tolerance. We conclude that, for MR imaging of the knee, a low-field system is a cost-effective alternative to more expensive superconducting units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ignatius Ziekenhuis Breda (IZB), Netherlands.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Geenen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kint
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Versteylen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Wiechen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Schepper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007717:Knee / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted