Purpose
To evaluate a fat-saturated T2-weighted 3D SPACE sequence with compressed sensing (3D-T2-SPACE-CS) for imaging the ankle in a clinical setting.
Further to assess this sequence for replacing a standard 2D-protocol regarding visibility of relevant structures and pathologies.
Methods and Materials
13 patients (7 male,
6 female,
mean age 42y,
range 21-76y) that were referred to our department for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the ankle were enrolled.
All patients underwent MRI of the ankle using our standard 2D protocol (axial and paraxial T2w,
coronal and sagittal PDfs,
coronal and sagittal T1w; acquisition time: ~16:12) and the 3D-T2-SPACE-CS sequence in sagittal orientation with axial and coronal reconstruction (acquisition time: 04:34,
SL 0.6mm,
TE 92ms,
TR 1200ms,
FA 120°,
matrix 256x256,
FOV 160).
A dedicated ankle...
Results
Concerning visibility of ligaments,
the anterior syndesmotic band and the anterior talofibular ligament were only detected with the 3D-T2-SPACE-CS sequence in one patient each.
The calcaneofibular ligament could not be clearly depicted with both protocols in one patient,
the anterior tibiotalar ligament in 6 patients and the talonavicular ligament in 5 patients.
All the other ligaments were documented as assessable with both protocols.
In one patient a split-tear of the musculus peroneus brevis was not recognized with the standard 2D protocol,
it could only be...
Conclusion
3D-T2-SPACE-CS is a fast and reliable sequence with the potential to replace standard 2D protocols for imaging the ankle.