title: Magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of focal liver lesions: comparison of dynamic contrast-enhanced TurboFLASH and T2 weighted spin echo images.
abstract: In a previous study using dynamic contrast-enhanced TurboFLASH (DCETF) for demonstration of the portal venous system we found that this technique showed more liver lesions than T2 weighted spin echo (T2WSE) imaging in the same patients. In this study we have formally compared axial T2WSE images (TR 2000, TE 45/90) with TurboFLASH images (TR 135, TE 4, FA 80 degrees) acquired immediately after bolus injection of Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol kg-1) in 41 patients referred for hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery for liver lesions. The images of each sequence were independently reviewed by two observers. The lesions were counted and each sequence was scored for conspicuity, level of artefact and subjective image quality. Contrast-to-noise ratios using user defined regions of interest were calculated. Significantly more lesions were seen on DCETF (n = 186) images than on T2WSE (n = 123) images (p < 0.001). Lesion conspicuity was equal in 53% of cases, better on DCETF in 36% and better on T2WSE in 11%. Contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher on DCETF images (p < 0.05). DCETF imaging provided a substantial improvement in lesion detection compared with T2WSE imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Baudouin
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA