Meniscal abnormalities of the knee: 3DFT fast-scan GRASS MR imaging

The ability to use fast-scan techniques to obtain MR images without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy is a desirable goal in MR imaging. We describe a series of patients in whom fast-scan MR imaging was found to be equal to conventional spin-echo imaging in the detection and characterization of meniscal abnormalities. Thirty-five patients with suspected meniscal tears were studied with fast-scan imaging (3DTF-GRASS), and the results were compared with those of conventional spin-echo imaging. Three-millimeter contiguous sections through the entire knee were obtained in 5 min by using the 3DTF-GRASS technique. 3DTF-GRASS and spin-echo images agreed in all cases regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality and its degree of severity. We conclude that fast-scan 3DTF-GRASS MR imaging is useful when screening the knee for the presence of meniscal abnormalities.