title: Parallel imaging improves the image quality and duct visibility of breathhold two-dimensional thick-slab MR cholangiopancreatography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of parallel imaging (PI) with different acceleration factors on the image quality and duct visibility of breathhold two-dimensional (2D) thick-slab single-shot turbo spin-echo (SSTSE) MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breathhold 2D thick-slab SSTSE MRCP was performed three times, i.e., without PI, with PI factor 2, and with PI factor 3, at 1.5 Tesla (T) for each of 85 patients. Two, independent readers evaluated the image quality and the visibility of five duct segments and ranked their preference of the three MRCP sequences. The data were analyzed using the repeated-measures analysis of variance test, the Friedman test, and the linear-by-linear chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRCP sequences with PI factor 2 or 3 generated better image quality (P < 0.001) and an improved duct visibility for all duct segments (P ≤ 0.01), while no significant difference was noted between the MRCP sequences with PI factor 2 and PI factor 3 (P > 0.05). Among the three sequences, both readers most often preferred the MRCP with PI factor 3, followed by the MRCP with PI factor 2 (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of PI improves the image quality and duct visibility in breathhold 2D thick-slab SSTSE MRCP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Seong
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Seong Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Moon-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D062485:Breath Holding; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; magnetic resonance imaging; parallel imaging