Detection of focal liver lesions in unenhanced and ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison of T2-weighted breath-hold and respiratory-triggered sequences.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the image quality and detection rate of focal liver lesions by comparing a T2-weighted breath-hold single-shot sequence and a T2-weighted high spatial resolution fast spin-echo sequence with respiratory triggering via unenhanced and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced liver imaging.


METHODS
The study was approved by the local ethical review board; informed consent was waived. Liver-lesion contrast was measured and a qualitative consensus evaluation of image quality and lesion detection was performed in 42 consecutive patients using a 1.5-T MR system.


RESULTS
The liver-lesion contrast was significantly higher (P<.05) for the respiratory-triggered sequence compared to the breath-hold sequence regarding unenhanced and SPIO-enhanced imaging. The respiratory-triggered sequences revealed significantly higher image quality scores as well as higher numbers of detected liver lesions compared to the breath-hold sequence on unenhanced and SPIO-enhanced imaging. The SPIO contrast did not significantly improve the number of detected lesions on the respective sequences (P>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We find that respiratory-triggered fast spin-echo sequences produce a higher image quality and a more precise liver-lesion detection rate thereby justifying the increased acquisition time necessary for this method.
Rief
Matthias
M
Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Campus Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Wagner
Moritz
M
Franiel
Tobias
T
Bresan
Viola
V
Taupitz
Matthias
M
Klessen
Christian
C
Hamm
Bernd
B
Asbach
Patrick
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide