Improved identification of cartilage lesion in chondromalacia patellae (CMP) with 7.0 T MRI compared with 3.0T MRI: a preliminary study

To compare the ability in revealing subtle changes of patellar cartilage in suspected CMP between 7.0T and 3.0T MRI. We documented the total number of identified cartilage lesions by two radiologists and compared the number of cartilage lesions identified between 3.0T and 7.0T MRI. The result showed good consistency between readers. The mean number of cartilage lesions identified on 3.0T images was significantly less than 7.0T images. Considering the preliminary and small-sample feature of the study, we conclude conservatively that compared with 3.0T MRI, 7.0T MR images reveal more lesion of the patellar cartilage in CMP patients.