Deep learning-based acceleration of high-resolution compressed sense MR imaging of the hip

Purpose: To evaluate a Compressed Sense Artificial Intelligence framework (CSAI) incorporating parallel imaging, compressed sense (CS), and deep learning for high-resolution MRI of the hip, comparing it with standard-resolution CS imaging. Methods: Thirty-two patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome underwent 3 T MRI scans. Coronal and sagittal intermediate-weighted TSE sequences with fat saturation were acquired using CS (0.6 x0.8 mm resolution) and CSAI (0.3 x0.4 mm resolution) protocols in comparable acquisition times (7:49 vs. 8:07 minutes for both planes). Two readers systematically assessed the depiction of the acetabular and femoral cartilage (in five cartilage zones), labrum, ligamentum capitis femoris, and bone using a five-point Likert scale. Diagnostic confidence and abnormality detection were recorded and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: CSAI significantly improved the cartilage depiction across most cartilage zones compared to CS. Overall Likert scores were 4.0 f 0.2 (CS) vs 4.2 f 0.6 (CSAI) for reader 1 and 4.0 f 0.2 (CS) vs 4.3 f 0.6 (CSAI) for reader 2 (p <= 0.001). Diagnostic confidence increased from 3.5 f 0.7 and 3.9 f 0.6 (CS) to 4.0 f 0.6 and 4.1 f 0.7 (CSAI) for readers 1 and 2, respectively (p <= 0.001). More cartilage lesions were detected with CSAI, with significant improvements in diagnostic confidence in certain cartilage zones such as femoral zone C and D for both readers. Labrum and ligamentum capitis femoris depiction remained similar, while bone depiction was rated lower. No abnormalities detected in CS were missed in CSAI. Conclusion: CSAI provides high-resolution hip MR images with enhanced cartilage depiction without extending acquisition times, potentially enabling more precise hip cartilage assessment.