title: A Spiral Spin-Echo MR Imaging Technique for Improved Flow Artifact Suppression in T1-Weighted Postcontrast Brain Imaging: A Comparison with Cartesian Turbo Spin-Echo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A challenge with the T1-weighted postcontrast Cartesian spin-echo and turbo spin-echo brain MR imaging is the presence of flow artifacts. Our aim was to develop a rapid 2D spiral spin-echo sequence for T1-weighted MR imaging with minimal flow artifacts and to compare it with a conventional Cartesian 2D turbo spin-echo sequence.
  
  
  METHODS
  T1-weighted brain imaging was performed in 24 pediatric patients. After the administration of intravenous gadolinium contrast agent, a reference Cartesian TSE sequence with a scanning time of 2 minutes 30 seconds was performed, followed by the proposed spiral spin-echo sequence with a scanning time of 1 minutes 18 seconds, with similar spatial resolution and volumetric coverage. The results were reviewed independently and blindly by 3 neuroradiologists. Scores from a 3-point scale were assigned in 3 categories: flow artifact reduction, subjective preference, and lesion conspicuity, if any. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to evaluate the reviewer scores. The t test was used to evaluate the SNR. The Fleiss κ coefficient was calculated to examine interreader agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 23 cases, spiral spin-echo was scored over Cartesian TSE in flow artifact reduction (P < .001). In 21 cases, spiral spin-echo was rated superior in subjective preference (P < .001). Ten patients were identified with lesions, and no statistically significant difference in lesion conspicuity was observed between the 2 sequences. There was no statistically significant difference in SNR between the 2 techniques. The Fleiss κ coefficient was 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed spiral spin-echo pulse sequence provides postcontrast images with minimal flow artifacts at a faster scanning time than its Cartesian TSE counterpart.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Imaging Research (Z.L., D.W., J.G.P.) lizhiqiang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Z
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-5734
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (H.H.H., J.H.M., P.C.), Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: H H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0719-1159
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (H.H.H., J.H.M., P.C.), Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: J H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0018-2532
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Radiology (J.P.K.), Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: J P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4181-4185
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Karis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (H.H.H., J.H.M., P.C.), Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5096-6047
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Imaging Research (Z.L., D.W., J.G.P.).
authors.forename: D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7403-3759
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Imaging Research (Z.L., D.W., J.G.P.).
authors.forename: J G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7858-1162
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pipe
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media