Deep learning reconstruction of zero echo time imaging: bone erosion detection in axial spondyloarthritis

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of DLR of ZTE imaging for bone erosion in axial spondyloarthritis, using CT as the reference standard. Twenty-three patients with suspicion of sacroiliitis underwent both CT and MR scans of sacroiliac joints included for analysis. ZTE with or with DLR showed higher correlation coefficients than T1WI for two readers. Inter-reader agreements showed moderate to substantial agreement. ZTE DLR improves diagnostic performance in the detection of SIJ bone erosion in patients with axial spondyloarthritis compared with T1WI and ZTE without DLR.