Imaging the knee in the setting of metal hardware

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2014 Nov;22(4):765-86. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2014.07.009. Epub 2014 Aug 28.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an established modality for the evaluation of musculoskeletal structures, including the knee. Metallic implants are increasingly used and techniques to minimize artifacts are continuously improving. This article reviews the general principles behind the effects of metal on MR imaging, various MR imaging techniques that are available or have been recently described in the literature, and abnormalities that can be encountered during MR imaging of patients related to knee arthroplasty, hardware after internal fixation, or hardware used for soft tissue fixation.

Keywords: Knee; Metal artifact reduction sequences; Metal hardware; Metal imaging; Multiacquisition variable-resonance image combination; Slice encoding for metal artifact correction; Ultrashort echo time-MAVRIC; View angle tilting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts*
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Knee Joint / pathology*
  • Knee Joint / surgery*
  • Knee Prosthesis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity