title: Evaluation of optimized inversion-recovery fat-suppression techniques for T2-weighted abdominal MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the theoretical benefits of a spectral attenuated inversion-recovery (SPAIR) fat-suppression (FS) technique in clinical abdominal MRI by comparison to conventional inversion-recovery (IR) FS combined with T2-weighted (T2W) partial Fourier single shot fast spin echo (SSFSE).
  
  
  METHODS
  1.5T MRI studies of the abdomen were performed in 28 patients with liver lesions (hemangiomas n = 14; metastases n = 14). T2W sequences were acquired using IR and SPAIR SSFSE. Measurements included retroperitoneal and mesenteric fat signal-to-noise (SNR) to evaluate FS; liver lesion contrast-to-noise (CNR) to evaluate bulk water signal recovery effects; and bowel wall delineation to evaluate susceptibility and physiological motion effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPAIR-SSFSE images produce significantly improved FS and liver lesion CNR. The mean SNR of the retroperitoneal and mesenteric fat for SPAIR SSFSE was 20.5 +/- 10.2 (+/-1 SD) and 12.7 +/- 6.2, compared to 43.2 +/- 24.1 (P = 0.000006) and 29.3 +/- 16.8 (P = 0.0000005) for IR-SSFSE. SPAIR-SSFSE images produced higher CNR for both hemangiomas CNR = 164 +/- 88 vs. 126 +/- 83 (P = 0.00005) and metastases CNR = 75 +/- 27 vs. 53 +/- 19 (P = 0.007). Bowel wall visualization was significantly improved using SPAIR-SSFSE (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The theoretical benefits of SPAIR over conventional IR FS translate into significant multiple improvements that can be measured on clinical abdominal MRI scans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lauenstein
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heberlein
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tudorascu
authors.forename: Diego R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media