Comparison between 3-point Dixon- and CHESS-based OMERACT-recommended MRI protocols in hands of patients with suspicion of early rheumatoid arthritis

•Three-point Dixon MRI sequences yield more effective fat suppression than CHESS sequences in hands of patients with suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis.•Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon water-only images yield higher contrast-to-noise ratios than corresponding CHESS images in hands of patients with suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis.•Evaluation of disease activity with OMERACT recommended Dixon-based MRI protocols is more reproducible than evaluation with CHESS-based MRI protocols.