MRI and MR Arthrography

Since the publication of the previous edition of this book in 2006, there have been significant developments in MRI imaging techniques. The technological advances in hardware, such as high-field MRI magnets and better coils, have allowed for high-resolution techniques, isotropic imaging, and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). This resulted in enhanced diagnostic accuracy of MRI sequences and provided detailed delineation of hip pathology while reducing scan time. In addition, the development of new imaging techniques such as ultrashort echo time and zero echo time has resulted in the exploration of previously under-investigated anatomic areas including cortical bone and subchondral bone plate. This helped deepen our understanding of some of the most complex pathophysiological changes that may occur in the hip joint. New frontiers in the utility of artificial intelligence in MRI imaging, such as MRI-based synthetic CT, have shown that MRI could replace CT and help reduce radiation exposure. This chapter focuses on the new advances of MRI and MR arthrography techniques with a brief coverage of the conventional spin-echo MRI sequences such as T1, T2, and proton density sequences.