Optimization of Gd-DTPA-enhanced balanced turbo field echo sequence in abdominal imaging: a basic study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimum imaging conditions for the balanced turbo field echo (bTFE) sequence in abdominal imaging, we performed phantom experiments and scanning of a normal volunteer while noting the correlation among signal intensity, k-space ordering, flow velocity and Gd-DTPA concentration.


METHODS
Initially, the abdomen of a healthy volunteer and some samples (water, blood and bovine albumin solutions with various Gd-DTPA concentrations, and olive oil) were examined with the bTFE sequence under various conditions to define the correlation among signal intensity, k-space ordering and Gd-DTPA concentration. Another experiment was performed to assess the correlation between the flow velocity and Gd-DTPA concentration. With the centric-bTFE sequence, we measured the signal intensity of water samples having various Gd-DTPA concentrations flowing in a long tube with an internal diameter of 4 mm.


RESULTS
The experiments revealed the following issues: (i) The contrast of bTFE images was much influenced by k-space ordering; (ii) Gd-DTPA did not exhibit an overt enhancement effect in water and blood under stable conditions; (iii) The signal intensity of moving water decreased in centric-bTFE images, and this signal drop became more significant as the fluid speed increased; and (iv) Gd-DTPA decreased the range of signal loss in the moving fluid; however, this effect had no correlation with Gd-DTPA concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
When the bTFE sequence was employed for abdominal imaging, centric view ordering, fat suppression and Gd-DTPA contrast enhancement were assumed to be necessary.
Nasu
Katsuhiro
K
Department of Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan. kanasu@east.ncc.go.jp
Kuroki
Yoshifumi
Y
Kuroki
Seiko
S
Murakami
Koji
K
Nawano
Shigeru
S
Moriyama
Noriyuki
N
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012212:Rheology
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA