Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate three‐dimensional driven equilibrium Fourier transform (3D‐DEFT) for image quality and detection of articular cartilage lesions in the knee.
Materials and Methods
We imaged 104 consecutive patients with knee pain with 3D‐DEFT and proton density (PD‐FSE) and T2‐weighted (T2‐FSE) fast spin echo. Twenty‐four went on to arthroscopy. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) efficiency were measured. Subjective image quality, fat suppression, and cartilage thickness visibility were assessed. Cartilage lesions on 3D‐DEFT and T2‐FSE were compared with findings outlined in operative reports.
Results
SNR efficiency was higher for 3D‐DEFT and PD‐FSE than for T2‐FSE (P < 0.02). 3D‐DEFT and PD‐FSE showed superior cartilage thickness visibility compared with T2‐FSE (P < 0.02). T2‐FSE showed better fat suppression and fewer image artifacts than 3D‐DEFT (P < 0.04). 3D‐DEFT had similar sensitivity and similar specificity for cartilage lesions compared with PD‐FSE and T2‐FSE.
Conclusion
3D‐DEFT provides excellent synovial fluid‐to‐cartilage contrast while preserving signal from cartilage, giving this method a high cartilage SNR. 3D‐DEFT shows the full cartilage thickness better than T2‐FSE. T2‐FSE had superior fat saturation and fewer artifacts than 3D‐DEFT. Overall, 3D‐DEFT requires further technical development, but is a promising method for imaging articular cartilage. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:476–481. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.