3 T magnetic resonance imaging of the musculoskeletal system

Abstract

The increasing distribution of high-field (3 T) magnetic resonance (MR) systems for clinical use has been accompanied by the need to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages that the increase in signal quality confers. Continuous development of the coils is required to fully express the potential of these systems, especially given the synergy between parallel imaging and the recent multichannel phased-array coils, which are able to improve image quality, spatial resolution and diagnostic accuracy in musculoskeletal imaging. The increase in signal offered by the high field makes possible improved visualisation of bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. This advantage, together with increased spatial resolution, is particularly useful when studying joints or some of their components, the evaluation of which has produced suboptimal results in non arthrographic examinations such as the glenoid labrum of the shoulder and the articular cartilage of the knee. Thanks to the greater signal-to-noise ratio and improved spatial resolution, MR imaging at 3 T is able to notably increase diagnostic performance in the musculoskeletal setting, with a consequent improvement in patient treatment and management.

Evaluation of Labral Pathology and Hip Articular Cartilage in Patients with Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI): Comparison of Multidetector CT Arthrography and MR Arthrography

“…Higher field strength magnets (3T), which are commonly employed in routine practice, allow for higher spatial resolution in the same time period or faster acquisition with identical spatial resolution. Therefore, they are associated with greater sensitivity and specifity for detection of labral tears and evaluation of articular cartilage [ 24 – 26 ]. Slice thickness is 3–4 mm in the majority of published protocols for MRa of the hip, with FOV between 14–18 cm, focusing on the symptomatic hip.…”

“…However, when considering the increasing popularity of new hip-preserving surgical techniques, assessing biochemical properties of cartilage before structural breakdown becomes evident is gaining on importance. Cartilage mapping techniques such as delayed gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), T2 mapping and T1r mapping seem to be well-suited for early detection of preclinical cartilage damage [ 24 ]. In our series, although CTa was inferior to MRa in the demonstration of the acetabular cartilage, it was found to be equivalent to MRa in the detection of femoral cartilage loss.…”

3-Tesla MR spectroscopy in patients subjected to bone marrow transplantation: clinical correlations

“…In letteratura vi sono diversi studi riguardanti l'applicazione dell'esame RM su pazienti con emolinfopatie [11][12][13][14][15]. Uno studio condotto da Schick et al [6] asserisce che lo studio con RM del rachide lombo-sacrale, in contrasto con le tecniche bioptiche che dimostrano solo la composizione locale del midollo osseo, permette sia una caratterizzazione della composizione del midollo osseo emopoietico che una stima della distribuzione spaziale di acqua e lipidi, consentendo quindi una valutazione globale non invasiva del midollo osseo e forings of the two observers was -1.2%±4.2% with 95% limits of agreement, as estimated according to the Bland-Altman method (Fig.…”

“…The literature contains many studies on the application of MR imaging to patients with blood and lymph node diseases [11][12][13][14][15]. A study conducted by Schick et al [6] states that MR imaging of the lumbosacral spine, in contrast to biopsy techniques that demonstrate only the local composition of the bone marrow, provides both a characterisation of the composition of the haematopoietic bone marrow and an estimation of the spatial distribution of water and fat, thereby enabling a global and noninvasive evaluation of the bone marrow and providing important additional nendo delle informazioni cliniche aggiuntive rilevanti [6] [6].…”

Magnetic resonance arthrography of the hip: technique and spectrum of findings in younger patients

“…MR operating systems nowadays have magnetic field strengths from 0.2–3 Tesla (T). Because it has a higher SNR, a greater magnetic field (3 T) allows for higher spatial resolution in the same time period or faster acquisition with identical spatial resolution [ 7 , 8 ]. Evaluation of the labrum and cartilage would be better with a 3-T magnetic field [ 9 ].…”