Usefulness of IDEAL T2-weighted FSE and SPGR imaging in reducing metallic artifacts in the postoperative ankles with metallic hardware.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is to prospectively compare the effectiveness of iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL), T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE), and spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) MR imaging to frequency selective fat suppression (FSFS) protocols for minimizing metallic artifacts in postoperative ankles with metallic hardware.


METHODS
The T2-weighted and SPGR imaging with IDEAL and FSFS were performed on 21 ankles of 21 patients with metallic hardware. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently analyzed techniques for visualization of ankle ligaments and articular cartilage, uniformity of fat saturation, and relative size of the metallic artifacts. A paired t test was used for statistical comparisons of MR images between IDEAL and FSFS groups.


RESULTS
IDEAL T2-weighted FSE and SPGR images enabled significantly improved visualization of articular cartilage (p < 0.05), the size of metallic artifact (p < 0.05), and the uniformity of fat saturation (p < 0.05). However, no significant improvement was found in the visibility of ligaments.


CONCLUSIONS
IDEAL T2-weighted FSE and SPGR imaging effectively reduces the degree of tissue-obscuring artifacts produced by fixation hardware in ankle joints and improves image quality compared to FSFS T2-weighted FSE and SPGR imaging. However, visibility of ligaments was not improved using IDEAL imaging.
Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jungdong, Wonmigu Bucheonsi, Gyeonggido, 420-767, Korea.
Jung Bin
JB
Lee
Jang Gyu
JG
Cha
Min Hee
MH
Lee
Young Koo
YK
Lee
Eun Hye
EH
Lee
Chan Hong
CH
Jeon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D008670:Metals