[Structures of the knee joint in nuclear magnetic resonance tomography. Improved representation with 3D volume imaging].

Despite 3D gradient echo technique has a better spacial resolution than spin echo sequences, 3D imaging is not well accepted for clinical routine. Because of the large amount of data evaluation cannot be done by single photo-documented slices. Postprocessing of the 3D data sets with an image analysis system is indispensable. A maximum of two different gradient echo sequences (FLASH, FISP) are necessary for imaging of the whole interesting volume with continuous slices. Time of examination is shorter (16 resp. 32 minutes) compared with conventional spin echo sequences. In our opinion 3D gradient echo-sequences are a reliable noninvasive technique for the evaluation of pathological changes of the knee joint which could replace diagnostic arthroscopy in the future.