5-Minute Quantitative Double-Echo in Steady-State Sequence for Comprehensive Whole-Joint Knee MRI
Clinical knee MRI examinations typically utilize 2D imaging methods with thick slices, requiring upwards of 20-25 minutes of scan time, and yet not producing any quantitative information. In this work, we demonstrate the utility of a 5-minute 3D MRI sequence entitled quantitative double-echo steady-state (qDESS) for perform comprehensive evaluation of the whole joint. qDESS is a rapid, multi-contrast, multi-planar, and quantitative sequence which can evaluate abnormalities of cartilage, menisci, tendons, bone, synovium, and ligaments with high agreement compared to the longer conventional protocol. Moreover, the addition of a proton-density-weighted sequence along with qDESS produces near perfect agreement with the conventional imaging.
Chaudhari AS, Stevens KJ, Sveinsson B, Wood JP, Beaulieu CF, Oei EHG, Rosenberg JK, Kogan F, Alley MT, Gold GE, Hargreaves BA. Combined 5-minute double-echo in steady-state with separated echoes and 2-minute proton-density-weighted 2D FSE sequence for comprehensive whole-joint knee MRI assessment. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019 Jun;49(7):e183-e194.
A depiction of the multiple-contrasts and orientations that can be generated with the 5-minute qDESS sequence, compared with the longer conventional imaging methods.
Bragi Sveinsson is an alumnus of the BMR group