CORONAL FAT-SUPPRESSION FAST SPIN-ECHO IMAGES OF THE KNEE - EVALUATION OF 202 PATIENTS WITH ARTHROSCOPIC CORRELATION

We optimized fat-suppressed fast spin echo (FS-FSE) parameters for cor onal imaging of the knee and then evaluated the technique in a clinica l setting, Five volunteers and 12 patients were used to evaluate vario us repetition (TR), echo (TE), and echo train lengths (ETL), Then, 202 patients underwent both knee MR imaging using coronal plane FS-FSE an d arthroscopy. The coronal FS-FSE images were compared with radial mul tiplanar gradient-recalled echo (MPGRE), axial T-1-weighted SE, and pa rasagittal double echo SE images. Proton density images (2000/19) with an ETL of 2 best depicted the menisci, ligaments, and capsules, The c onspicuity of osteochondral abnormalities depicted by the coronal FS-F SE imaging was significantly higher than for axial T-1-weighted SE (p < .003) and parasagittal double echo SE images (p < .003), The accurac y of the coronal FS-FSE imaging for medial and lateral meniscal tears was 91.6% and 87.6%, respectively, Combined imaging interpretation of the coronal FS-FSE, axial T-1-weighted SE, and radial MPGRE imaging im proved the accuracy for meniscal tears slightly over any sequence used alone, but the difference was not statistically significant, Fourteen capsular injuries were demonstrated by the coronal FS-FSE imaging, FS -FSE imaging in the coronal plane is a useful complementary sequence i n MR examinations of the knee for the evaluation of meniscal tears, ca psular injuries, and osteochondral abnormalities. Copyright (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Inc.