title: High-resolution MRI of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) at 3T: comparison of surface coil and volume coil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate high-resolution MRI of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) at 3T using a surface coil (SC) or volume coil (VC).
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI was obtained from nine volunteers in the supine position with a 3-inch SC and in prone position with a transmit-receiver wrist VC at 3 T. Coronal two-dimensional-gradient echo (2D-GRE) images (TR/TE/FA = 500 msec/15 msec/40 degrees , 1 mm slice-thickness, 60 mm field of view [FOV], 192 x 256 matrix) and coronal 3D-GRE images (TR/TE/FA = 33 msec/15 msec/10 degrees , 0.8 mm slice-thickness, 80 mm FOV, 256 x 256 matrix) were used. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the TFCC and surrounding structures were measured. For qualitative measurement, visualization of TFCC and intercarpal ligaments was graded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SNR of TFCC, cartilage, and bone marrow on 2D-GRE with SC/VC was as follows: 5.3/5.3 (TFCC), 16.5/14.4 (cartilage), and 3.61/3.96 (bone marrow). 3D-GRE showed similar SNR. Cartilage-TFCC/cartilage-bone marrow CNR were 11.1/12.8 (SC-2D-GRE), 8.8/10.5 (VC-2D-GRE), 14.1/15.5 (SC-3D-GRE), and 11.9/15.0 (VC-3D-GRE). Quantitative values were not significantly different between SC and VC. Visualization of TFCC and intercarpal ligament with SC was superior to that with VC. All structures show higher scores with 3D-GRE imaging compared to 2D-GRE imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SC may provide superior qualitative and quantitative results and can be an alternative in case of difficulty in prone position at 3T.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blazar
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winalski
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013499:Surface Properties; D051478:Triangular Fibrocartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*