title: Diagnostic performance of 3D TSE MRI versus 2D TSE MRI of the knee at 1.5 T, with prompt arthroscopic correlation, in the detection of meniscal and cruciate ligament tears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic performance of the three-dimensional turbo spin-echo (3D TSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with the performance of the standard two-dimensional turbo spin-echo (2D TSE) protocol at 1.5 T, in the detection of meniscal and ligament tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients were imaged twice, first with a standard multiplanar 2D TSE MR technique, and then with a 3D TSE technique, both in the same 1.5 T MRI scanner. The patients underwent knee arthroscopy within the first three days after the MRI. Using arthroscopy as the reference standard, we determined the diagnostic performance and agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For detecting anterior cruciate ligament tears, the 3D TSE and routine 2D TSE techniques showed similar values for sensitivity (93% and 93%, respectively) and specificity (80% and 85%, respectively). For detecting medial meniscal tears, the two techniques also had similar sensitivity (85% and 83%, respectively) and specificity (68% and 71%, respectively). In addition, for detecting lateral meniscal tears, the two techniques had similar sensitivity (58% and 54%, respectively) and specificity (82% and 92%, respectively). There was a substantial to almost perfect intraobserver and interobserver agreement when comparing the readings for both techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D TSE technique has a diagnostic performance similar to that of the routine 2D TSE protocol for detecting meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears at 1.5 T, with the advantage of faster acquisition.
authors.affiliation: PhD, Professor of Radiology, Division of Radiology, Universidade de Fortaleza (Unifor) and Centro Universitário Christus; Section Head, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Hospital Antonio Prudente, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Abaeté
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Chagas-Neto
authors.affiliation: PhD, Full Professor of Radiology, Division of Radiology, Internal Medicine Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nogueira-Barbosa
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiologist, Radiologia Especializada de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário Müller
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lorenzato
authors.affiliation: PhD, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.affiliation: PhD, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kfuri-Junior
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiologist, Radiology Department, Saint-Antoine Hospital, University of Paris VI, Paris, France; Department of Radiology, Quantitative Imaging Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology and Teleimagem, Hospital do Coração (HCor), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel Daoud
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crema
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Arthroscopy; Knee; Magnetic resonance imaging; Menisci