MR imaging of knee hyaline cartilage: evaluation of two- and three-dimensional sequences.
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of cadaveric knees was performed to determine optimal sequences for visualization of hyaline cartilage. Full-thickness cartilage lesions ranging in diameter from 1 to 5 mm and a partial-thickness cartilage lesion 15 mm in diameter were created in the femoral articular surfaces of three cadaveric knees. The knees were then imaged with a 1.5-T imager with various two-dimensional and high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) techniques. After imaging, the knee specimens were sectioned for evaluation. Measurements of cartilage thickness in fast spin-echo images correlated best with those in the gross specimen. Diffuse areas of cartilage thinning were also most accurately identified with fast spin-echo images. Small, focal cartilage defects were best delineated in 3D SPGR (spoiled GRASS [gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state]) images.
Tervonen
O
O
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Dietz
M J
MJ
Carmichael
S W
SW
Ehman
R L
RL
D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*