Application value of 3D-WATS magnetic resonance imaging in cartilage injury of knee joint

Abstract

Objective To study the application value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of three dimensional water selective excitation (3D-WATS) in cartilage injury of knee joint. Methods A total of 60 patients with confirmed cartilage injury of knee joint in our hospital between January and November 2019 were recruited in this study. They all underwent MR imaging, including T1WI, T2WI, PDWI, T2-mapping, and 3D-WATS sequences. With the results of arthroscopy as the diagnostic standard, the diagnostic efficacy of PDWI, T2-mapping and 3D-WATS for cartilage injury were compared with Chi-square test, and staging coincidence was studied with Spearman correlation analysis. Results The diagnostic efficacy of PDWI, T2-mapping and 3D-WATS sequences statistically differed from each other in knee cartilage injury (AUC=0.842, 0.934 and 0.974; P=0.000). Compared with the results of arthroscopy, the 3D-WATS sequence revealed cartilage injury in 58 cases, and the consistency of staging was good with the results of arthroscopy (rho=1.00, P=0.00). T2-mapping sequence found cartilage injury in 53 cases, and took the second in consistency of staging (rho=0.80, P=0.20). PDWI sequence revealed cartilage injury in 51 cases, with poor staging with the results of arthroscopy (rho=0.20, P=0.80), and more minor injuries were missed. Conclusion 3D-WATS sequence has good diagnostic efficacy and consistency of staging for cartilage injury, and can be used as a routine sequence of MRI knee imaging.

Keywords

• knee joint
• cartilage
• three dimensional water selective excitation
• magnetic resonance imaging