T2-weighted MRI of the female pelvis: comparison of breath-hold fast-recovery fast spin-echo and nonbreath-hold fast spin-echo sequences.
In 49 patients who had pelvic abnormalities, breath-hold T2-weighted fast-recovery (FR)-fast spin-echo (FSE) (imaging time = 24 sec) and nonbreath-hold FSE MR images (2 min 8 sec) were compared qualitatively (on a four-point scale) and quantitatively (using signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast ratios (/SIs of the lesions-SIs of the myometrium/SIs of the myometrium)). Motion artifacts were reduced on breath-hold FR-FSE (3.8:3.2 = breath-hold FSE:nonbreath-hold FSE, P < 0.01) and image quality was comparable (3.8:3.7, NS). In all patients, pathology (leiomyoma [N = 26], adenomyosis [N = 10], endometrial carcinoma [N = 8], and ovarian cystic lesions [N = 21]) was recognized with comparable lesion conspicuity (3.8:3.7, NS) and better delineation of the structures (3.9:3.6, P < 0.05) on the FR-FSE images. There was no significant difference in contrast ratios, although SNRs (e.g., myometrium 18.3:25.8, P < 0.01) were better and the uterine zonal anatomy was recognized better on the nonbreath-hold FSE (3.4:3.7, P < 0.05). These differences did not affect the diagnosis. Breath-hold FR-FSE provides the benefits of motionless imaging and a short examination time, although lower SNRs were noted. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:930-937.
Masui
T
T
Department of Radiology, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, 2-12-12 Sumiyoshi, Hamamatsu, 430-8558 Japan. masui@sis.seirei.or.jp
Katayama
M
M
Kobayashi
S
S
Sakahara
H
H
Ito
T
T
Nozaki
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity