MULTIPLANAR RECONSTRUCTION IN MR-IMAGING OF THE KNEE - COMPARISON WITH STANDARD SAGITTAL AND CORONAL IMAGES

Purpose: To compare standard MR sagittal and coronal imaging of the kn ee with the MR technique of finer sagittal imaging and subsequent reco nstruction in any plane. Material and Methods: Forty-seven patients to ok part in the study. Two radiologists each made two independent inter pretations in every case, based on images of: a) 4-mm sagittal and cor onal slices; and b) 1.2-mm sagittal slices with subsequent reconstruct ion. Results: We found no significant difference in diagnostic efficac y between the two MR techniques. The reconstruction in any desired pla ne involved a potential reduction of 10 min in examination time but an increase of approximately 20 min in postprocessing time. Conclusion: The use of multiplanar reconstruction offered no additional diagnostic value and no saving of time.