title: Free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the abdomen and chest using a radial gradient echo sequence with K-space weighted image contrast (KWIC).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of free-breathing, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI of the abdomen and thorax using the radial-gradient-echo sequence with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutional review board approval was obtained. Fourteen patients underwent free-breathing radial DCE-MRI. Radial MRI yielded full-frame images by gridding all k-space data and time-resolved subframe images by using KWIC reconstruction technique. Using subframe KWIC images, voxel-wise perfusion maps were created. For comparison, the breath-hold conventional Cartesian 3D-gradient-echo sequence (VIBE) was also performed during the equilibrium phase. The image qualities of radial and conventional VIBE images were compared quantitatively and qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radial DCE-MRI provided high spatial resolution (1.4 × 1.4 mm) and temporal resolution (4.1 s for subframe images) allowing voxel-wise perfusion mapping with negligible motion or streaking artefacts. There were no significant differences in SNR between full-frame radial images and conventional VIBE images (79.08 vs 74.80, P > 0.05). Overall image quality score of full-frame radial images was slightly lower than that of conventional VIBE images (3.88 ± 0.59 vs. 4.31 ± 0.97, P < 0.05), but provided clinically useful images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The free-breathing radial DCE-MRI can provide high spatial and temporal resolution while maintaining reasonably high image quality and thus is a feasible technique for DCE-MRI in the abdomen and thorax.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE) MRI is important in oncological imaging • Radial MRI with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction offers potential improvements • Radial DCE-MRI provides good image quality, reduced artefacts and high spatial/temporal resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Joon Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Byung Ihn
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yung-Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Kai Tobias
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Hyunjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Chin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA