MR imaging of the liver: breath-hold T1-weighted MP-GRE compared with conventional T2-weighted SE imaging--lesion detection, localization, and characterization.
OBJECTIVE
To compare breath-hold T1-weighted magnetization-prepared gradient-echo (MP-GRE) imaging with conventional T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) imaging in evaluation of focal liver disease.


METHODS
Images of 68 patients evaluated for focal liver disease were reviewed. Five sets of images were analyzed: axial, sagittal, and coronal breath-hold T1-weighted MP-GRE images, axial T2-weighted SE images, and a compilation of axial, sagittal, and coronal (three-plane) T1-weighted MP-GRE images. Lesion signal intensity (SI) and signal difference-to-noise (SD/N) ratios were calculated.


RESULTS
Lesions were detected, localized, and characterize more accurately (P < .05-.001) and with greater confidence on three-plane T1-weighted MP-GRE images than on almost all single-plane images. Mean SI ratios of nonsolid and solid lesions on MP-GRE and SE images were significantly different at all lesion sizes; mean SD/N ratio was significantly different only for large lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Lesion detection, localization, and characterization can be accurately and confidently performed with three-plane T1-weighted MP-GRE breath-hold imaging, potentially obviating conventional T2-weighted SE imaging.
de Lange
E E
EE
Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Mugler
J P
JP
Bosworth
J E
JE
DeAngelis
G A
GA
Gay
S B
SB
Hurt
N S
NS
Berr
S S
SS
Rosenblatt
J M
JM
Merickel
L W
LW
Harris
E K
EK
D016477:Artifacts; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity