Table 1.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Fat-Suppression Techniques in Musculoskeletal MR Imaging

Technique	Imaging Time	SNR	SAR	Effect of Metal	B0 Sensitivity	B1 Sensitivity	Preferred Field Strength
Chemical fat  saturation	Short*	High	Medium	Strong	Sensitive	Sensitive	High
STIR	Long	Low	High	Minimal	Insensitive	Insensitive	Indifferent
SPIR	Long	High	High	Strong	Sensitive	Sensitive	High
SPAIR	Long	High	High	Strong	Sensitive	Insensitive	High
Water  excitation	Short	High	Low	Strong	Sensitive	Insensitive	Medium†
Dixon	Long	High	Low	Mini- malw	Insensitive (three- or four-point Dixon)	Insensitive	Medium†

Source.—Reference 2.

Note.—All other MR imaging parameters should be considered equal. SPIR = spectral presaturation with inversion recovery.

^*Depends on the pulse sequence.

^†There are advantages and disadvantages at both high and low magnetic field strengths.