Morphologic
Knee

Clinical Challenge

Morphologic MRI may not detect subtle and slow changes in tissue that may occur with degeneration, remodeling or healing.

Technical Approach

Use novel sequences such as Ultrashort Time-to-Echo (UTE) MRI and high spatial resolution afforded by latest , and the newest morphologic techniques tailored for small tissues. 

Knee Conventional

This conventional MRI of a knee shows articular cartilage and menisci with medium to low signal intensity.

Knee UTE

UTE MRI reveals deep and calcified layers of articular cartilage (arrows) and menisci (triangle) with high signal intensity.

Spine

Spine Conventional

This conventional MRI of a spine shows cartilage endplates with low signal intensity, making it difficult to evaluate them.

Spine UTE

UTE MRI reveals the structure of cartilage endplates with high contrast. Both normal and abnormal structures could be discerned here.

Wrist

Wrist Conventional

Conventional coronal fluid sensitive sequence of the wrist shows intermediate signal of articular cartilage, and low signal in the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC).

Wrist UTE

UTE sequence of the wrist shows bright signal in the deep and calcified layer of cartilage (arrow)  and in the triangular fibrocartilage (arrowhead) (TFC).

TMJ

TMJ Conventional

Conventional sagittal fluid sensitive sequence of the TMJ shows the low signal intensity disc and the mandibular condyle.

TMJ UTE

UTE sequence of the TMJ shows bright signal in the disc (arrows) and in the fibrocartilage covering the mandibular condyle (arrowhead).

Tendon

Tendon Conventional

Conventional sagittal MR image of the ankle shows the low signal intensity Achilles tendon.

Tendon UTE

UTE sequence of the ankle shows normal fasciculation (white arrow) in the tendon and a region of tendinosis (orange arrow) that could not be seen on the standard MRI.