title: Image quality of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the liver using dual-source parallel radiofrequency transmission technology: Comparison with the post-processing correction method for B1 inhomogeneity-induced signal loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the dual-source parallel radiofrequency system (DS system) for gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six subjects with liver diseases underwent hepatobiliary phase imaging of Gd-EOB-MRI using either the DS system or a single-source radiofrequency system with or without body-tuned CLEAR, which is a post-processing correction method of B1 inhomogeneity-induced signal loss (SSBTC+ and SSBTC-, respectively). The left and right lobes of the liver were separately assessed. Qualitatively, the homogeneity of signal intensity distribution was scored using a 3-point scale. Quantitatively, lesion-to-liver and spleen-to-liver contrast ratios (CRs) were calculated. The scores and CRs were compared among the three techniques by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant for each analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DS system showed a significantly better score in the left lobe of the liver, and higher lesion-to-liver and spleen-to-liver CRs in the left and right lobes of the liver, compared with SSBTC+ or SSBTC- (p<0.05). The DS system and SSBTC- showed no significant differences in scores in the right lobe of the liver but they showed significantly better scores than SSBTC+ (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DS system is more advantageous to improve the homogeneity of signal intensity distribution and tissue contrast of Gd-EOB-MRI than the post-processing correction method independently of the site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. ytaka@radiol.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yukihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishie
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.forename: Kousei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kakihara
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshiura
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA