Contrast changes in portal vein and bile duct between centric and linear k-space ordering on three-dimensional segmented true fast imaging with steady-state precession magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the degree of visualization of the bile duct and portal vein in terms of the difference in k-space ordering on a three-dimensional (3D) segmented true fast imaging with steady-state precession (trueFISP) sequence.


METHODS
A breath-hold coronal 3D segmented trueFISP sequence was prospectively performed on 14 healthy volunteers. Images obtained with centric and linear k-space ordering in the k(x)-k(y) plane were compared by two independent radiologists qualitatively with depiction scores on a five-point scale (1=not seen to 5=excellent depiction) using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Images were also compared quantitatively using relative contrast values for the bile duct and portal vein against the hepatic parenchyma using a paired t-test.


RESULTS
With centric ordering, both the mean depiction scores and relative contrast values for the portal vein were significantly lower than those with linear ordering (1.5 vs. 3.5, P<.01; and 0.08+/-0.19 vs. 0.51+/-0.10, P<.01, respectively). However, in the bile duct, there were no significant differences, only slight differences were found among the results obtained with centric and linear ordering (3.9 vs. 3.8, P=.72; and 0.59+/-0.06 vs. 0.68+/-0.06, P<.01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
For visualizing the bile duct, centric k-space ordering on 3D segmented trueFISP sequence is recommended, while linear ordering is recommended for portal vein visualization.
Morita
Satoru
S
Department of Radiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East, Tokyo 116-8567, Japan. i@imodey.com
Saito
Naoko
N
Suzuki
Kazufumi
K
Ohnishi
Takahiro
T
Imura
Chiaki
C
Mitsuhashi
Norio
N
D000328:Adult; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric