title: Readout-segmented echo-planar imaging in diffusion-weighted mr imaging in breast cancer: comparison with single-shot echo-planar imaging in image quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of standard single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and that of readout-segmented EPI (rs-EPI) in patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients with 74 breast cancers underwent both ss-EPI and rs-EPI. For qualitative comparison of image quality, three readers independently assessed the two sets of diffusion-weighted (DW) images. To evaluate geometric distortion, a comparison was made between lesion lengths derived from contrast enhanced MR (CE-MR) images and those obtained from the corresponding DW images. For assessment of image parameters, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rs-EPI was superior to ss-EPI in most criteria regarding the qualitative image quality. Anatomical structure distinction, delineation of the lesion, ghosting artifact, and overall image quality were significantly better in rs-EPI. Regarding the geometric distortion, lesion length on ss-EPI was significantly different from that of CE-MR, whereas there were no significant differences between CE-MR and rs-EPI. The rs-EPI was superior to ss-EPI in SNR and CNR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Readout-segmented EPI is superior to ss-EPI in the aspect of image quality in DW MR imaging of the breast.
authors: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Yun Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Sung Hun
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Bong Joo
authors: BJ
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Radiology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon 403-720, Korea.
authors: Chang Suk
authors: CS
authors: Park
authors: Department of Radiology, St. Paul Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 130-709, Korea.
authors: Hyeon Sook
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Healthcare Sector, Siemens Ltd., Seoul 120-837, Korea.
authors: Yo Han
authors: YH
authors: Son
authors: Healthcare Sector, Siemens AG, Erlangen 91050, Germany.
authors: David Andrew
authors: DA
authors: Porter
authors: Department of General Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Byung Joo
authors: BJ
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Breast neoplasm; Diffusion-weighted MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging