title: Feasibility of fast MR imaging of the liver at 1.5 T.
abstract: A phantom with T1 and T2 relaxation times encompassing normal liver and liver lesions was constructed to evaluate fast magnetic resonance pulse sequences using TR from 21-100 milliseconds, TE 12-60 milliseconds and flip angles from 5 degrees-90 degrees. Ten of these fast MR sequences were then selected and compared with conventional spin-echo sequences in normal volunteers (n = 3) and in patients with liver lesions (n = 6). Subjectively, the fast MR sequences eliminated motion artefacts. Objectively, 8 of 10 fast sequences had signal-to-noise ratios comparable to spin-echo imaging whereas only 2 of 10 had contrast-to-noise ratios that were similar to spin-echo imaging. This preliminary study, performed at 1.5 Tesla, does not show any clear-cut advantage of fast imaging over spin-echo imaging in the detection of liver lesions. The use of a liver tissue equivalent phantom provides a rapid, practical approach in evaluation of fast scans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raval
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narayana
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008961:Models, Structural; D013997:Time Factors