Comparison of MR Cortical Bone Imaging for the Assessment of the Sacroiliac Joint: FRACTURE ( 3D Gradient Echo Sequence ) vs BoneVIEW ( UTE Sequence )

Motivation: In axial spondyloarthritis, structural and compositional assessments of the sacroiliac joint ( SIJ ) are essential. MRI is valuable but slightly inferior to CT for structural evaluation. MRI-based cortical bone imaging is promising, though optimal applications remain unclear. Goal(s): To clarify the characteristics of FRACTURE and BoneVIEW sequences and guide their clinical use. Approach: FRACTURE and BoneVIEW sequences were acquired in patients with back pain and SIJ pain, followed by quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Results: FRACTURE excelled in structural clarity and clinical readability, while BoneVIEW showed superior bone SNR and cortex-marrow CNR. The depiction of joint spaces had a significant difference between the two sequences. Impact: Clarifying the differences between FRACTURE and BoneVIEW deepens understanding of each sequence and may lead to improvements that optimize their clinical applications for more accurate and effective sacroiliac joint assessment.