American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 167, 1223-1227, Copyright © 1996 by American Roentgen Ray Society

ARTICLES

Usefulness of turbo spin-echo MR imaging in the evaluation of meniscal tears: comparison with a conventional spin-echo sequence

EM Escobedo, JC Hunter, GC Zink-Brody, AJ Wilson, SD Harrison and DJ Fisher
Department of Radiology (114), Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Fast (turbo) spin-echo imaging techniques have replaced conventional spin-echo protocols in a large proportion of MR applications, with the principle advantage of decreased imaging time. The choice of echo train length is a key determinant of time savings realized, but the echo train length can also adversely affect image quality if too many echoes are incorporated into an image. Several recent studies have shown conflicting results regarding the usefulness of turbo spin-echo imaging in the evaluation of meniscal tears. We compare a turbo spin-echo sequence that has an echo train length of five with a conventional spin-echo sequence for evaluating meniscal tears. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty knees in 39 consecutive patients referred for MR study of the knee were imaged using both conventional spin-echo and turbo spin-echo sequences. The turbo spin-echo sequence provided both proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images (dual echo technique) with an effective echo-train length of five. Nineteen knees (38 menisci) were studied arthroscopically. The arthroscopic findings were considered the reference standard. Spin-echo and turbo spin-echo images were reviewed retrospectively, and results were compared statistically. RESULTS: Of the 80 menisci evaluated with MR imaging, spin-echo and turbo spin-echo images provided concordant results in 95% of cases, with no statistically significant difference found between the two techniques (p < .05). Seventeen tears were found at arthroscopy in 38 menisci studied. Spin-echo and turbo spin-echo imaging had identical specificities (90%) and similar sensitivities (88% and 82%, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study shows that proton density- weighted sequences with an echo train length of five preserve sufficient high-spatial-frequency information to provide performance similar to that of conventional spin-echo sequences. Our data support the conclusion that fast spin-echo imaging with short echo train length is a reasonable substitute for conventional spin-echo imaging in the evaluation of the knee.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. E. Gold, R. F. Busse, C. Beehler, E. Han, A. C. S. Brau, P. J. Beatty, and C. F. Beaulieu Isotropic MRI of the Knee with 3D Fast Spin-Echo Extended Echo-Train Acquisition (XETA): Initial Experience Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2007; 188(5): 1287 - 1293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A. De Smet and M. J. Tuite Use of the "Two-Slice-Touch" Rule for the MRI Diagnosis of Meniscal Tears Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2006; 187(4): 911 - 914. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. R. Ramnath, T. Magee, N. Wasudev, and R. Murrah Accuracy of 3-T MRI using fast spin-echo technique to detect meniscal tears of the knee. Am. J. Roentgenol., July 1, 2006; 187(1): 221 - 225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. B. Blackmon, N. M. Major, and C. A. Helms Comparison of Fast Spin-Echo Versus Conventional Spin-Echo MRI for Evaluating Meniscal Tears Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2005; 184(6): 1740 - 1743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Vasanawala, B. A. Hargreaves, J. M. Pauly, D. G. Nishimura, C. F. Beaulieu, and G. E. Gold Rapid Musculoskeletal MRI with Phase-Sensitive Steady-State Free Precession: Comparison with Routine Knee MRI Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2005; 184(5): 1450 - 1455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. E. Gold, T. R. McCauley, M. L. Gray, and D. G. Disler Special Focus Session: What's New in Cartilage? RadioGraphics, September 1, 2003; 23(5): 1227 - 1242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Mohr, F. W. Roemer, H. K. Genant, C. Liess, and A. Sonin Using Fat-Saturated Proton Density-Weighted MR Imaging to Evaluate Articular Cartilage Am. J. Roentgenol., July 1, 2003; 181(1): 280 - 282. [Full Text] [PDF]

				W.-H. Jee, T. R. McCauley, J.-M. Kim, D.-J. Jun, Y.-J. Lee, B.-G. Choi, and K.-H. Choi Meniscal Tear Configurations: Categorization with MR Imaging Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2003; 180(1): 93 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Helms The Meniscus: Recent Advances in MR Imaging of the Knee Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2002; 179(5): 1115 - 1122. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Sonin, R. A. Pensy, M. E. Mulligan, and S. Hatem Grading Articular Cartilage of the Knee Using Fast Spin-Echo Proton Density-Weighted MR Imaging Without Fat Suppression Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2002; 179(5): 1159 - 1166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Boegård, O. Rudling, I. F Petersson, and K. Jonsson Correlation between radiographically diagnosed osteophytes and magnetic resonance detected cartilage defects in the tibiofemoral joint Ann Rheum Dis, July 1, 1998; 57(7): 401 - 407. [Abstract] [Full Text]