T2-weighted MRI of the upper abdomen: comparison of four fat-suppressed T2-weighted sequences including PROPELLER (BLADE) technique.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare four different fat-suppressed T2-weighted sequences with different techniques with regard to image quality and lesion detection in upper abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.


METHODS
Thirty-two consecutive patients referred for upper abdominal MRI for the evaluation of various suspected pathologies were included in this study. Different T2-weighted sequences (free-breathing navigator-triggered turbo spin-echo [TSE], free-breathing navigator-triggered TSE with restore pulse (RP), breath-hold TSE with RP, and free-breathing navigator-triggered TSE with RP using the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction technique [using BLADE, a Siemens implementation of this technique]) were used on all patients. All images were assessed independently by two radiologists. Assessments of motion artifacts; the edge sharpness of the liver, pancreas, and intrahepatic vessels; depictions of the intrahepatic vessels; and overall image quality were performed qualitatively. Quantitative analysis was performed by calculation of the signal-to-noise ratios for liver tissue and gallbladder as well as contrast-to-noise ratios of liver to spleen.


RESULTS
Liver and gallbladder signal-to-noise ratios as well as liver to spleen contrast-to-noise ratios were significantly higher (P < .05) for the BLADE technique compared to all other sequences. In qualitative analysis, the severity of motion artifacts was significantly lower with T2-weighted free-breathing navigator-triggered BLADE sequences compared to other sequences (P < .01). The edge sharpness of the liver, pancreas, and intrahepatic vessels; depictions of the intrahepatic vessels; and overall image quality were significantly better with the BLADE sequence (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The T2-weighted free-breathing navigator-triggered TSE sequence with the BLADE technique is a promising approach for reducing motion artifacts and improving image quality in upper abdominal MRI scans.
Bayramoglu
Sibel
S
Department of Radiology, Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kilickesmez
Ozgür
O
Cimilli
Tan
T
Kayhan
Arda
A
Yirik
Gülseren
G
Islim
Filiz
F
Alibek
Sedat
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity