Esophageal magnetic resonance fluoroscopy: optimization of the sequence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to try to delineate the esophageal passage under dynamic conditions and to determine optimum settings for esophageal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
Ten healthy volunteers underwent MR fluoroscopy with two T1-weighted sequences: turbo field echo (TFE) and T1-weighted fast field echo (T1-FFE). These sequences were compared for signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and image quality. To determine the optimum slice thickness, an additional 10 healthy volunteers underwent MR fluoroscopy. Results obtained for slice thicknesses of 25, 35, 45, and 55 mm were compared for delineated length of the esophagus and image quality.


RESULTS
The T1-FFE sequences provided higher SNRs and better image quality than the TFE sequences (T1-FFE: 89.4 +/- 28.0, TFE: 52.4 +/- 16.7; P < 0.001). Artifacts were less prominent and delineation of the esophageal wall was better on the T1-FFE images. The delineation of the esophageal wall was best with a 35-mm slice thickness, although delineated length was the longest with a 55-mm slice thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed T1-FFE to be a more suitable sequence than TFE and that the 35-mm slice thickness was the optimum slice thickness for esophageal MR fluoroscopy.
Department of Radiology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasa-machi, Gifu, Gifu-Prefecture 500-8705, Japan. manatomo@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Tomoko
T
Manabe
Hideaki
H
Kawamitsu
Takanori
T
Higashino
Hong
H
Lee
Masahiko
M
Fujii
Hiroaki
H
Hoshi
Kazuro
K
Sugimura
D000328:Adult; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values