Accuracy of fat-suppressed three-dimensional spoiled gradient-echo FLASH MR imaging in the detection of patellofemoral articular cartilage abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of T1-weighted fat-suppressed (FS) three-dimensional (3D) fast low-angle shot (FLASH) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of articular cartilage abnormalities of the patellofemoral joint.


METHODS
Forty-one patients with suspected internal derangement of the knee were examined with a T1-weighted FS 3D FLASH sequence and subsequently underwent arthroscopy. The patellofemoral articular cartilage was graded blindly on both the MR and arthroscopic images with a modification of the Noyes classification scheme.


RESULTS
For the detection of abnormal articular cartilage of the patellofemoral joint with the FS 3D FLASH sequence, sensitivity was 81%, specificity was 97%, and accuracy was 97%. Of the lesions detected on MR images, 77% were graded identically on MR and arthroscopic images. For the remaining 23%, MR imaging and arthroscopic ratings were within one grade of each other.


CONCLUSIONS
T1-weighted FS 3D FLASH imaging is accurate for the detection and grading of articular cartilage abnormalities of the patellofemoral joint.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
M P
MP
Recht
D W
DW
Piraino
G A
GA
Paletta
J P
JP
Schils
G H
GH
Belhobek
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity