title: Patient-initiated breath-holds in MRI: an alternative for reducing respiratory artifacts and improving image quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate MRI image quality using two different breath-hold techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients remitted for MRI, 2D-dual gradient echo acquisition of the liver conducted two separate breath-hold acquisitions in randomized order, operator-instructed and patient-initiated. The images were reviewed by two radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in image quality between the two breath-hold techniques either in overall image quality or respiratory motion artifacts. This assessment was equal and concordant for both radiologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of image quality, the patient self-initiated breath-hold was shown to be an equal alternative to conventional breath-hold imaging.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: eva.funk@oru.se.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anderzén-Carlsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ingverud
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leander
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thunberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D062485:Breath Holding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Breath-hold; Image quality; Liver MRI; Patient cooperation