[High-field and ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging: new possibilities for imaging joints]

Whole-body MR tomography at 3 T is moving steadily from research into routine clinical practice. The most important advantage of high-field MRI is the higher signal to noise ratio, which allows acquisitions in the musculo-skeletal system with higher resolution within the same scan time. The imaging of small joints, the visualization of labral anatomy and pathology in the shoulder and hip joints, as well as cartilage imaging will benefit from higher resolution protocols. In addition to improved morphological imaging of articular cartilage, the higher sensitivity of 3 T allows the clinical use of advanced MR techniques of cartilage such as T1 and T2 mapping, diffusion and sodium imaging. The improved spectral resolution with the higher field may improve metabolic imaging of tumors of the skeleton and soft tissues.