BLADE acquisition method improves T2-weighted MR images of the female pelvis compared with a standard fast spin-echo sequence.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate feasibility of the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER or BLADE) T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) of the female pelvis by comparing it with standard fast spin-echo T2WI (STD-T2WI).


METHODS
Sagittal STD-T2WI and BLADE-T2WI of the female pelvis were performed with (36 patients) or without (15 patients) administration of butylscopolamine on a 1.5 T MR unit. Two radiologists independently rated depiction of the uterus, ovary, intestines, bladder, gynecological lesions, overall quality, and artifacts using a four-point scale. Results were compared between STD-T2WI vs. BLADE-T2WI either with (B+) or without (B-) administration of butylscopolamine, BLADE-T2WI (B-) vs. BLADE-T2WI (B+), and STD-T2WI (B+) vs. BLADE-T2WI (B-).


RESULTS
When butylscopolamine was administrated, depiction of the uterus, ovary, intestines, gynecological lesions, and overall image quality was rated higher and artifacts were rated fewer for BLADE-T2WI with significance compared with STD-T2WI. When the drug was not administrated, significant difference was observed in depiction of the lesion, overall quality, and artifacts. Depiction of the uterus, gynecological lesion, and overall quality was rated significantly higher and artifacts were fewer in BLADE-T2WI (B+) than in BLADE-T2WI (B-).


CONCLUSIONS
BLADE method was feasible for female pelvic MRI, with best image quality in BLADE-T2WI (B+).
Fujimoto
Koji
K
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. kfb@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Koyama
Takashi
T
Tamai
Ken
K
Morisawa
Nobuko
N
Okada
Tomohisa
T
Togashi
Kaori
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity