Radiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Knee derangements: comparison of isotropic 3D fast spin-echo, isotropic 3D balanced fast field-echo, and conventional 2D fast spin-echo MR imaging.
To compare diagnostic performance, subjective image quality, and artifacts of isotropic three-dimensional (3D) intermediate-weighted (IW) fast spin-echo (SE), isotropic 3D balanced fast field-echo (FFE), and conventional two-dimensional (2D) fast SE 3.0-T MR sequences in evaluation of cartilage, ligaments, menisci, and osseous knee structures in symptomatic patients. ⋯ The performance of IW fast SE is superior to that of balanced FFE in evaluation of cartilaginous defects, with no significant difference in performance between 2D fast SE, 3D IW fast SE, and 3D balanced FFE in evaluation of meniscal and ligament tears. Subchondral bone marrow signal abnormality is more easily seen on 3D IW fast SE images, with better subjective image quality and fewer artifacts, than on images obtained with other techniques.