MR Arthrography of the Hip: Diagnostic Performance of a Dedicated Water-Excitation 3D Double-Echo Steady-State Sequence to Detect Cartilage Lesions

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to compare the diagnostic performance of a dedicated cartilage MR sequence (water-excitation 3D double-echo steady-state) with a standard MR sequence (T1-weighted spin-echo) in detecting articular cartilage lesions of the hip after intraarticular injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine.MATERIALS AND METHODS. In 50 MR arthrograms of the hip joint obtained in 47 consecutive patients, a sagittal 3D double-echo steady-state sequence (TR/TE, 24/6.5; flip angle, 25°) was compared with a sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (350/14). Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently evaluated articular cartilage. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting cartilage defects were calculated for those hips that underwent open surgery (n = 21). Lesion conspicuity was retrospectively reviewed and graded between 1 (not visible) and 5 (well defined).RESULTS. At surgery, a total of 26 lesions of the acetabular (n = 20) and femoral (n = 6) cartilage were found. For the 3D double-ec...