MRI of the liver: can True FISP replace HASTE?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of two fast breath-hold magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences, half-Fourier acquired single turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and true fast imaging with steady state precession (TrueFISP), for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions


METHODS
A total of 186 patients with suspected focal liver lesions were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent the same standardized study protocol including HASTE and TrueFISP. A consensus reading based on all available image data served as a standard of reference for classifying lesions into cysts, hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, or malignant/other lesions. All malignant lesions, as well as hepatic adenomas and abscesses, were histologically verified. Each separated by an eight-week interval, HASTE and TrueFISP images were retrospectively reviewed in random order for the detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was calculated.


RESULTS
HASTE images had an overall sensitivity of 0.86 and a specificity of 0.91, whereas TrueFISP showed an overall sensitivity and specificity of 0.79 and 0.83, respectively (p>0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Neither HASTE nor TrueFISP alone are sufficient for the detection and characterization of hepatic lesions.
Herborn
Christoph U
CU
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany. christoph.herborn@uni-essen.de
Vogt
Florian
F
Lauenstein
Thomas C
TC
Goyen
Mathias
M
Debatin
Jörg F
JF
Ruehm
Stephan G
SG
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity