title: Moderately T2-weighted images obtained with the single-shot fast spin-echo technique: differentiating between malignant and benign urinary obstructions.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a distinction could be made between benign and malignant urinary obstructions in moderately T(2)-weighted images obtained with the single-shot fast spin-echo technique. Forty-four lesions in 39 patients with urinary obstruction were evaluated with the single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) technique with an effective TE of 90-100 ms and without fat saturation. Benign and malignant lesions were compared for the presence of ureteral wall thickening and a signal intensity relative to the proximal ureteral wall. Statistically significant differences were found between benign and malignant lesions in both morphologic change (P<0.0001) and signal intensity of the lesions at the obstruction position (P<0.0001). The combination of wall thickening and increased signal intensity as a predictor of malignant disease yielded a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100%. Neither increased signal intensity nor wall thickening as a predictor of benign disease yielded a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 88%. The moderately T(2)-weighted SSFSE technique without fat saturation can accurately distinguish between benign and malignant urinary obstructions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, 1-30 Fujigaoka, Aoba-ku, Yokohama 227-8501, Japan. obuchi@sannet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obuchi
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinebuchi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000473:pathology*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000473:pathology*; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*