MR Imaging of the Pelvic Bones: The Current and Cutting-Edge Techniques

This review presents an overview of the spectrum of the current and cutting-edge MRI techniques for pelvic bone imaging in clinical practice. The current MRI sequences and their advantages, disadvantages and usefullness in the imaging of this complex anatomical region are addressed. Finally, cutting-edge techniques are discussed, including susceptibility weighted MRI, ultrashort echo time MRI, zero echo time MRI and a deep learning-based multiparametric MRI technique named ‘synthetic CT,’ creating CT-like images without ionizing radiaton. MAIN POINTS: GRE, SWI, UTE, ZTE MRI and synthetic CT sequences depict the cortical outline of the bones better in comparison to conventional MR images. MRI-based synthetic CT can create HU maps and allows for automated segmentation of pelvic bones. The current and cutting-edge MR techniques for bone imaging are complementary in the characterization of a variety of musculoskeletal disorders.