Comparison of single-breath-hold fast spin-echo sequences with routine non-breath-hold techniques: application to MRI of renal masses.
In 24 patients presenting with 55 renal lesions (mean size, 20.8 mm), single-breath-hold (SBH) fast spin-echo (FSE) techniques allowing T1 and T2 images to be produced within 20 and 23 sec, respectively, were compared with routine non-breath-hold (NBH) spin-echo (SE) T1 and NBH-FSE T2 sequences. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) measured from SBH-FSE T1 images were an average of 97% higher than their NBH counterparts (P = .0001) and allowed an improved lesion conspicuity in 80% of the cases (P = 0.0001). For T2 imaging, SBH-FSE and NBH-FSE sequences were not statistically different with respect to lesion conspicuity (P = .55) and CNR values (P = .19). This was observed despite a 35% average decrease in CNR of SBH-FSE compared to NBH-FSE images. By reducing respiratory motion artifacts while preserving SE-like image contrast, SBH-FSE techniques have the potential to replace routine NBH sequences for an optimal diagnosis of renal masses.
Melki
P S
PS
Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Argaud
C
C
Suminski
M
M
Hélénon
O
O
Belin
X
X
Millet
P
P
Chrétien
Y
Y
Zannoli
G
G
Moreau
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration
D003287:Contrast Media