Sang Hoon Lee, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sung Moon Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jeong Ah Ryu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Myung Jin Shin, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Woo Shin Cho MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyung-Ja Cho MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to compare two dimensional (2D) fast spin echo techniques and three dimensional (3D) fast field echo techniques for the evaluation of chondromalacia patella using microscopy coil.

25 patients underwent total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Preoperative MR evaluation of patella using microscopy coil (47mm) at clinical 1.5T MR machine was done. All patients selected in this study had relatively mild osteoarthritis at patello-femoral compartment. Proton density-weighted fast spin echo image (PD), fat-suppressed proton density-weighted fast spin echo image (FS-PD), fat- suppressed T2 weighted fast spin echo image (FS-T2WI), 3D balanced-fast field echo image (B-FFE), 3D T1 fast field echo with water excitation for cartilage image (WATS-c), 3D fast field echo with water excitation for fluid images (WATS-f) were taken at 1.5T MR machine; 6cm field of view, 256 x 208 matrix, 1.5mm slice thickness, voxel size=1.5 x 0.23 x 0.29 mm3, 2-3 number of excitations, acquisition time-about 4 minutes. A patella cartilage was evaluated with 9 areas; superior, middle, inferior portion subdivided with medial, central, and lateral facet in a total of 216 areas. 1-2 days after MR evaluation, knee arthroplasty was done and patella section was acquired. Using Noyes grading system, MR grade 0-1, 2, and 3 lesions were compared with gross and microscopic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy was evaluated in each sequences.

Gross and microscopic findings demonstrated 163 grade 0-1 lesions, 42 grade 2 lesions, and 11 grade 3 lesions. FS-T2WI had highest sensitivity (sensitivity/specificity/accuracy=86%/98%/95%), followed by FS-PD (78/98/94), PD (74/98/93), B-FFE (68/100/92), WATS-c (64/100/91), WATS-f (62/100/91).

2D Fast spin echo images were superior to 3D-FFE technique for evaluation of chondromalacia patella using microscopy coil in clinical MR machine.

Lee, S, Kim, S, Ryu, J, Shin, M, Cho, W, Cho, K, Evaluation of Chondromalacia Patella Using Microscopy Coil: Comparison between Two-dimensional Fast Spin Echo Techniques and Three-dimensional FastField Echo Techniques.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4417500.html