title: Comparison of respiratory-triggered 3-D fast spin-echo and single-shot fast spin-echo radial slab MR cholangiopancreatography images in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The two most commonly performed magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) sequences, 3-D fast spin-echo (3-D FSE) and single-shot fast spin-echo radial slabs (radial slabs), have not been compared in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare 3-D FSE and radial slabs MRCP sequences on a 3-T scanner to determine their ability to show various segments of pancreaticobiliary tree and presence of artifacts in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 79 consecutive MRCPs performed in 74 children on a 3-T scanner. We noted visibility of major ducts on 3-D FSE and radial slabs. We noted the order of branching of ducts in the right and left hepatic ducts and the degree of visibility of the pancreatic duct. Statistical analysis was performed using McNemar and signed rank tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the visibility of major bile ducts and the order of branching in the right hepatic lobe between sequences. A higher order of branching in the left lobe was seen on radial slabs than 3-D FSE (mean order of branching 2.82 versus 2.27; P-value = 0.0002). The visibility of pancreatic duct was better on radial slabs as compared to 3-D FSE (mean value of 1.53 vs. 0.90; P-value < 0.0001). 3-D FSE sequence was artifact-free in 25/79 (31.6%) MRCP exams as compared to radial slabs, which were artifact-free in 18/79 (22.8%) MRCP exams (P-value = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant difference in the visibility of major bile ducts between 3-D FSE and radial slab MRCP sequences at 3-T in children. However, radial slab MRCP shows a higher order of branching in the left hepatic lobe and superior visibility of the pancreatic duct than 3-D FSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. drgovindchavhan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Govind B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Chavhan
authors.forename: Abeer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almehdar
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moineddin
authors.forename: Sumeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Babyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055425:Respiratory-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity