A Comparative Study on the Diagnostic Value of Conventional Spin Echo Proton Density and Fast Spin Echo Proton Density Sequences of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Meniscal Tear

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Knee is the largest synovial joint in the body. Although FSE PD (fast spin echo proton density) imaging technique for the diagnosis of meniscal tear has replaced CSE PD (conventional spin echo proton density) technique in many MRI centers, several studies have questioned the effectiveness of FSE PD technique in diagnosis of meniscal tear. In this study, the diagnostic values of CSE PD and FSE PD techniques in evaluation of meniscus tear are compared. Materials:In this study, using CSE PD and FSE PD techniques, MRI was performed on 67 knees of patients with suspected meniscal tear referring to the MRI Center of Imam Reza Hospital (Kermanshah, Iran). Diagnostic arthroscopy was also performed for all patients. The data were entered SPSS version 20, and finally the results of MRI reports of the two techniques were compared in evaluation of meniscal tear taking into account the arthroscopic findings as the gold standard.Results: According to the results of this study, no significant difference was found in specificity and positive predictive value of the two techniques. However, the sensitivity and negative predictive values were significantly different, in such a way that the related values were 97% and 97% in the CSE PD technique and 69% and 73% in the FSE PD technique, respectively. Conclusion:Due to low sensitivity and high false negative results, MRI using FSE PD technique is not recommended as an alternative for CSE PD technique in evaluation of meniscal tear.