MR imaging of the abdomen with a phased-array multicoil: prospective clinical evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare use of a phased-array multicoil and a conventional body coil in abdominal MR imaging.


METHODS
Thirteen patients (seven men, six women; mean age, 55 years) underwent imaging with a phased-array multicoil and with a conventional body coil. Four pulse sequences were used: T2-weighted spin echo (SE), magnetization-prepared gradient-recalled echo (GRE), breath-hold fast SE, and echo planar (EP).


RESULTS
Lesion detection improved the most on fast SE, multicoil-acquired images. Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) increased 64% with fast SE (P = .0005) and EP (P < .0109) sequences. Contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) doubled (P < .05) with T2-weighted SE sequences. Lesion conspicuity improved on multicoil-acquired images with all fast sequences (magnetization-prepared GRE, P = .015; fast SE, P = .002; EP imaging, P = .013). There was little difference in respiratory and vascular artifact. Depiction of most abdominal structures improved (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of the phased-array multicoil provides better MR images of the abdomen than does use of a conventional body coil.
Campeau
N G
NG
Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Johnson
C D
CD
Felmlee
J P
JP
Rydberg
J N
JN
Butts
R K
RK
Ehman
R L
RL
Riederer
S J
SJ
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies