MRI of the anatomical structures of the knee: the proton density-weighted fast spin-echo sequence vs the proton density-weighted fast-recovery fast spin-echo sequence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the proton-density (PD)-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) and fast-recovery FSE (FRFSE) sequences for the evaluation of the anatomical structures of the knee.


METHODS
24 healthy volunteers who underwent MRI by both sagittal PD-weighted FSE and FRFSE sequences were evaluated. The signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and anatomical detail visualisation were compared for the two techniques.


RESULTS
The mean CNRs and reader ratings for both readers were significantly higher for the PD-weighted FRFSE images than for the PD-weighted FSE images in the cartilages/the femorotibial joint effusion and the cruciate ligaments/the effusion around the cruciate ligaments; however, the mean CNRs and reader ratings for both readers were significantly higher for the PD-weighted FSE sequences than for the PD-weighted FRFSE sequences in the cartilages/the menisci and the cruciate ligaments.


CONCLUSIONS
The main advantages of the PD-weighted FRFSE sequence are the increase in contrast between fluid and non-fluid tissues and the time saved by using the procedure. However, in the absence of joint effusion, the PD-weighted FRFSE sequence generates a poorer contrast between the cartilage and meniscus, the cruciate ligaments and fat of the intercondylar fossa.
Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. chinupapa@goo.jp
O
O
Tokuda
Y
Y
Harada
G
G
Shiraishi
T
T
Motomura
K
K
Fukuda
M
M
Kimura
N
N
Matsunaga
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011522:Protons