Young Han Lee MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Daekeon Lim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ho-Taek Song MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sungjun Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jin-Suck Suh MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence in knee cartilage grading.

81 patients with arthroscopically confirmed cartilage lesions underwent MRI with 2D sequences and iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence were enrolled. MR images were retrospectively analyzed by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to arthroscopic findings independently and correlated with arthroscopic grade. Cartilage lesions were classified into 4 grades. With arthroscopy as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence and the 2D sequence for detecting each grade and all grades for cartilage lesions within the knee joint were calculated for both readers combined and for all articular surfaces combined. Interobserver agreement was evaluated by using κ- coefficients.

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for all cartilage grades were 78%, 88%, 83% in 2D sequence, 83%, 90%, and 87% in iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence. For grade 2, 3 and 4 cartilage lesion, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence were higher than 2D sequence. For grade 1 cartilage lesion, sensitivity was the same (25%) at both sequence, but specificity, accuracy were 88%, 85% in 2D sequence, 90%, 86% in iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence. Interobserver agreement for detecting all cartilage lesions was excellent in iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence (κ =0.949).

Iso–volumetric 3D fat suppressed VISTA sequence has higher diagnostic value compared to 2D sequence in cartilage evaluation. The VISTA sequence can be utilized in the evaluation of the cartilage volume and thickness.

Exact assessment of  cartilage lesion in knee can help decision making in treatment plan.

Lee, Y, Lim, D, Song, H, Kim, S, Suh, J, Imaging of the Articular Cartilage of the Knee: Diagnostic Value of Isovolumetric 3D Fat-suppressed VISTA Sequence Imaging at 3.0T.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12027545.html