Objective: We describe an inexpensive and simple method for optimal visualization of the hip with MRI.
Materials and methods: A flexible shoulder surface coil and off-coronal planes of section oriented parallel to the long axis of the femoral neck are used for MR studies of the affected hip.
Results: From January 1993 through December 1993, 155 hip MR examinations were performed on 143 patients who were referred to radiology for evaluation of hip pain. No patient had to be rescanned as a result of poor imaging technique or hip pathology not in the field-of-view (FOV). The placement of the shoulder surface coil is simple with no significant time loss for setup. Off-coronal, small FOV MRI obtained with the shoulder surface coil are superior to those obtained with body coil imaging. Specifically, spatial resolution, tissue contrast, and lesion characterization are improved without significant degradation of signal-to-noise ratio.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates an inexpensive and simple method for optimal visualization of the hip with MRI applying the compound benefits of an available shoulder surface coil and the off-coronal plane of section.