Magnetic resonance imaging of the hip with a pelvic phased-array surface coil : a technical note

The aim of this study was to assess the capability of high-resolution images obtained with a commercially available pelvic phased-array surface coil to demonstrate normal hip anatomy. We retrospectively analyzed the oblique coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images of hips of 36 consecutive patients acquired on a 1.5-T clinical imager using a pelvic phased-array coil as a receiver, a 16-20 cm field of view, and 5 mm slice thickness. Thirty-six patients were studied, age 15-81 years. There were 20 males and 16 females. The articular cartilage, cortex, superior labrum, and iliofemoral ligament were well visualized on proton density weighted fat saturation (PDF) images. The femoral and obturator vessels, obturator nerve, and various muscles were easily seen on T1-weighted images. High-resolution imaging of the hip is achievable in a reasonable amount of time using newer phased-array surface coils and may play an increasing role in the future evaluation of hip disorders.