title: Readout-segmented echo-planar imaging in the evaluation of sinonasal lesions: A comprehensive comparison of image quality in single-shot echo-planar imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of readout-segmented echo-planar imaging using parallel imaging and a two-dimensional (2D) navigator (RESOLVE) in the evaluation of sinonasal lesions and to qualitatively and quantitatively compare the image qualities of single-shot echo-planar imaging (SS-EPI) and RESOLVE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both sinonasal SS-EPI and RESOLVE images were acquired from 32 patients on a 3-T MR scanner. Image quality, lesion conspicuity and the distortions of the SS-EPI and RESOLVE images were qualitatively evaluated by two radiologists. Distortion was also quantitatively evaluated by comparing the distances between the same anatomic points on TSE-T1WI, TSE-T2WI, SS-EPI and RESOLVE images. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of the two DWIs were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparisons of the qualitative scores indicated that RESOLVE significantly improved the image quality and lesion conspicuity and reduced the distortion of the sinonasal diseases. The orbit, skull base, temporal bone and upper neck were also better displayed on RESOLVE. Quantitative evaluations revealed that RESOLVE greatly reduced but did not completely remove the distortion. The ADC values of the sinonasal lesions on RESOLVE were lower than those on SS-EPI, whereas no differences were found in the brainstem. The SNR of RESOLVE was lower than that of SS-EPI. There were no differences in the CNRs of the two diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RESOLVE significantly improved the image quality for evaluations of sinonasal lesions by reducing the susceptibility artifacts, distortion and blurring compared with SS-EPI. RESOVLE offers more accurate ADC values of sinonasal lesions than SS-EPI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Menglong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of nuclear medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Mid Wulumuqi Road, Jingan District, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China. Electronic address: cjr.shayan@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Shenjiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Xinpei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Yucheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Siemens Ltd., No. 278, Zhouzhu Road, Nanhui, 201318 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shaoyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D002648:Child; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diffusion-weighted MRI; Readout-segmented echo-planar imaging; Single-shot echo-planar imaging; Sinonasal lesion