Deep learning MR reconstruction in knees and ankles in children and young adults. Is it ready for clinical use?

To evaluate the diagnostic performance and image quality of accelerated Turbo Spin Echo sequences using deep-learning (DL) reconstructions compared to conventional sequences in knee and ankle MRIs of children and young adults.

IRB-approved prospective study consisting of 49 MRIs from 48 subjects (10 males, mean age 16.4 years, range 7–29 years), with each MRI consisting of both conventional and DL sequences. Sequences were evaluated blindly to determine predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of DL sequences using conventional sequences and knee arthroscopy (if available) as references. Physeal patency and appearance were evaluated. Qualitative parameters were compared. Presence of undesired image alterations was assessed.

The prevalence of abnormal findings in the knees and ankles were 11.7% (75/640), and 11.5% (19/165), respectively. Using conventional sequences as reference, sensitivity and specificity of DL sequences in knees were 90.7% and 99.3%, and in ankles were 100.0% and 100.0%. Using arthroscopy as reference, sensitivity and specificity of DL sequences were 80.0% and 95.8%, and of conventional sequences were 80.0% and 97.9%. Agreement of physeal status was 100.0%. DL sequences were qualitatively “same-or-better” compared to conventional (p < 0.032), except for pixelation artifact for the PDFS sequence (p = 0.233). No discrete image alteration was identified in the knee DL sequences. In the ankle, we identified one DL artifact involving a tendon (0.8%, 1/125). DL sequences were faster than conventional sequences by a factor of 2 (p < 0.001).

In knee and ankle MRIs, DL sequences provided similar diagnostic performance and “same-or-better” image quality than conventional sequences at half the acquisition time.