MRI of the lung: value of different turbo spin-echo, single-shot turbo spin-echo, and 3D gradient-echo pulse sequences for the detection of pulmonary metastases.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the value of different MRI sequences of the lung for the detection of pulmonary metastases.


METHODS
A total of 28 patients with 225 pulmonary metastases confirmed at multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) underwent MRI of the lung, including breathhold T2-weighted single-shot turbo spin-echo (half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo [HASTE] and inversion recovery [IR]-HASTE) and conventional turbo spin-echo (TSE and short-tau inversion recovery [STIR]) sequences, a respiratory- and pulse-triggered black-blood STIR sequence (triggered STIR), and breathhold pre- and postcontrast volumetric interpolated 3D gradient-echo (VIBE) sequences. MR images were reviewed by three independent observers and results were correlated with MDCT, which served as standard of reference. Lesion-to-lung contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) and image artifacts were also assessed.


RESULTS
CNRs were highest on TSE images (P < 0.001). Mean sensitivities for lesion detection with triggered STIR, TSE, and STIR were 72.0%, 69.0%, and 63.4%, respectively. With HASTE, IR-HASTE, and pre- and postcontrast VIBE, significantly lower sensitivities were obtained (P < 0.05), although artifacts due to physiological motion were less distinct with these sequences compared to TSE and STIR (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional TSE sequences are more sensitive in depicting pulmonary metastases than single-shot TSE or 3D gradient-echo sequences. Respiratory and pulse triggering can improve lesion detection, but increases acquisition time substantially.
Bruegel
Melanie
M
Department of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. mbruegel@roe.med.tum.de
Gaa
Jochen
J
Woertler
Klaus
K
Ganter
Carl
C
Waldt
Simone
S
Hillerer
Claudia
C
Rummeny
Ernst J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed