Clinical Application of 5T Ultra-high-Field Knee MRI: A Comparative Study with 3T MRI

Motivation: 5T MRI strikes a balance between magnetic field strength and whole-body magnetic field homogeneity, offering a relatively lower cost and improved safety profile. Goal(s): This study aims to evaluate the application of 5T ultra-high-field MRI in knee joint imaging and directly compare its performance to the widely used 3T MRI to explore its primary advantages. Approach: This prospective study included healthy volunteers and patients. Various imaging sequences were used. Quantitative and semi-quantitative assessed overall image quality, the visualization of knee structures and outcomes. Results: 5T MRI demonstrated significantly improved image quality in most sequences compared to 3T, particularly in 2D imaging. Impact: The 5T MRI shows potential for small joint imaging with strong artifact control and fat suppression. Further research is needed to enhance 3D PDWI sequence quality.