Diagnostic image quality of shoulder magnetic resonance imaging at 0.55T in healthy subjects and patients with rotator cuff injury: Prospective comparison with 1.5T.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
- 2MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Ltd., Beijing, China.
- 3MR Clinical Marketing, Siemens Healthineers, Beijing, China.
- 4Siemens Shenzhen Magnetic Resonance Ltd., Shenzhen, China.
- 5Department of Orthopedics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Abstract
Background
Lower‑field 0.55 T MRI scanners with large‑bore design could offer patients more comfortable feeling and flexible position. With the advances in deep‑learning reconstruction and hardware optimization, 0.55T have greatly improved their image quality and cost‑effectiveness for musculoskeletal applications. However, its feasibility for shoulder evaluation remains unstudied.Purpose
To evaluate the image quality of shoulder using 0.55T MRI in volunteers and patients with rotator cuff injury with comparison of conventional 1.5T.Methods
Fifty participants (25 volunteers, 25 patients) were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent shoulder MRI both at open 0.55T with contour coils and deep learning (DL) and 1.5T MR without DL. The nonparametric method was utilized to compare image quality scores and quantitative metrics (signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (|CNR|)). Arthroscopy have been conducted in 16 patients. Kappa statistics was used to assess interobserver and interstudy agreement for lesion evaluation. Comfort feeling was also compared.Results
The scan time was 11'25″ for 0.55T MRI and 11'42″ for 1.5T MRI. The interobserver analyses showed high consistency (κ = 0.771-1.000, P: 0.008 ∼ < 0.001) among 3 readers. The scores for coronal fat suppressed T2 weighted imaging (fsT2WI) and coronal T1 weighted imaging (T1WI) were significantly higher for 0.55T MRI. Most sequences at 0.55T demonstrated significantly higher SNRs (P:0.04 ∼ < 0.001). Additionally, |CNR| values for lesions were significantly higher in fs proton weighted imaging (PDWI) and fsT2WI at 0.55T. Perfect interstudy agreement between 0.55T and 1.5T was observed between 2 readers (Kappa = 1, P < 0.001) for lesion assessment. Agreement between MRI findings and arthroscopic results was perfect or good. The 0.55T system received higher scores in comfort ratings.Conclusion
The 0.55T MRI with DL, showed comparable or better image quality in healthy subjects and patients with rotator cuff injury to 1.5T MRI without DL.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026diagnostic,
title = {{Diagnostic image quality of shoulder magnetic resonance imaging at 0.55T in healthy subjects and patients with rotator cuff injury: Prospective comparison with 1.5T.}},
author = {Jing Liu and Yue Gao and Ge Gao and Wei Li and Xiang Wang and Jinxia Zhu and Xiaoming Liu and Xiaoye Wang and Kun Zhou and Heng Liu and Jianxing Qiu},
journal = {Journal of applied clinical medical physics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/acm2.70825},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900521},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Diagnostic image quality of shoulder magnetic resonance imaging at 0.55T in healthy subjects and patients with rotator cuff injury: Prospective comparison with 1.5T.
AU - Jing Liu
AU - Yue Gao
AU - Ge Gao
AU - Wei Li
AU - Xiang Wang
AU - Jinxia Zhu
AU - Xiaoming Liu
AU - Xiaoye Wang
AU - Kun Zhou
AU - Heng Liu
AU - Jianxing Qiu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of applied clinical medical physics
DO - 10.1002/acm2.70825
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900521
AB - Background Lower‑field 0.55 T MRI scanners with large‑bore design could offer patients more comfortable feeling and flexible position. With the advances in deep‑learning reconstruction and hardware optimization, 0.55T have greatly improved their image quality and cost‑effectiveness for musculoskeletal applications. However, its feasibility for shoulder evaluation remains unstudied.Purpose To evaluate the image quality of shoulder using 0.55T MRI in volunteers and patients with rotator cuff injury with comparison of conventional 1.5T.Methods Fifty participants (25 volunteers, 25 patients) were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent shoulder MRI both at open 0.55T with contour coils and deep learning (DL) and 1.5T MR without DL. The nonparametric method was utilized to compare image quality scores and quantitative metrics (signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (|CNR|)). Arthroscopy have been conducted in 16 patients. Kappa statistics was used to assess interobserver and interstudy agreement for lesion evaluation. Comfort feeling was also compared.Results The scan time was 11'25″ for 0.55T MRI and 11'42″ for 1.5T MRI. The interobserver analyses showed high consistency (κ = 0.771-1.000, P: 0.008 ∼ < 0.001) among 3 readers. The scores for coronal fat suppressed T2 weighted imaging (fsT2WI) and coronal T1 weighted imaging (T1WI) were significantly higher for 0.55T MRI. Most sequences at 0.55T demonstrated significantly higher SNRs (P:0.04 ∼ < 0.001). Additionally, |CNR| values for lesions were significantly higher in fs proton weighted imaging (PDWI) and fsT2WI at 0.55T. Perfect interstudy agreement between 0.55T and 1.5T was observed between 2 readers (Kappa = 1, P < 0.001) for lesion assessment. Agreement between MRI findings and arthroscopic results was perfect or good. The 0.55T system received higher scores in comfort ratings.Conclusion The 0.55T MRI with DL, showed comparable or better image quality in healthy subjects and patients with rotator cuff injury to 1.5T MRI without DL.
SN - 1526-9914
ER -