[MRT versus CT in the diagnosis of pneumonias: an evaluation of a T2-weighted ultrafast turbo-spin-echo sequence (UTSE)].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a T2-weighted URSE sequence for the assessment of pulmonary infiltrations in comparison to CT.


METHODS
28 MRT scans of 22 patients with confirmed pneumonia were recorded on a 1.5 Tesla apparatus with an expiratory and diastolic triggered, T2-weighted ultrafast-spin-echo sequence in axial slice mode with the following parameters: TReff/TE/Turbo-factor 2000-4000/90 ms/21-23; slice thickness/separation 6/0.6 mm; FOV 360 mm; 24 slices. 24 spiral CTs (since thickness/table advance: 1-2 mm/10mm) were available for comparison. The separate evaluation of MRTs and CTs was performed by three radiologists in a consensus procedure with regard to pulmonary lesions (e.g., infiltration, round foci, net patterns) and image quality of the MRTs (4-step scale).


RESULTS
In 71% of the cases the CTs and MRTs agreed with the diagnosis and representation of the lesions, in 25% MRT was superior. MRT was better for the detection of pulmonary abscesses. In 93% the image quality of the MRT was very good to good.


CONCLUSIONS
MRT in the technique presented here is in most cases equal to CT for the detection of pneumonia. Diagnosis of pulmonary abscesses seems to be better with MRT.
Leutner
C
C
Radiologische Universitätsklinik Bonn. Leutner@uni.bonn.de
Gieseke
J
J
Lutterbey
G
G
Kuhl
C K
CK
Flacke
S
S
Glasmacher
A
A
Theisen
A
A
Wardelmann
E
E
Grohe
C
C
Schild
H H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
MRT versus CT in der Diagnostik von Pneumonien: Evaluation einer T2-gewichteten ultraschnellen Turbo-Spin-Echo-Sequenz (UTSE).