Comparison of 3D water selective excitation sequences versus conventional 2D fat suppressed sequences of MRI in evaluation of knee cartilage

Abstract

Background: To determine any difference between the efficacy of water excitation sequence in comparison with fat suppression sequence in evaluating knee cartilage.Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted for a period of two years from January 2021 to June 2022 in Department of Radiodiagnosis, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry. Results: In this prospective study carried out on 40 persons who came for MRI knee, the inter-observer agreement for cartilage visibility was same and found to be better in both the sequences.The inter-observer agreement for cartilage pathology was found to be same for MFC, LFC and MTP in both the sequences. However, the inter-observer agreement for cartilage pathology over Patella, Trochlea and LTP was found to be better in 3D water excitation sequence than 2D fat suppression sequence.Conclusion: We observe a significant improvement in the inter-observer agreement when evaluating knee cartilage using 3D-WATS sequences than using conventional 2D PD SE sequences.