title: Comparison of image quality between conventional VIBE and radial VIBE in free-breathing paediatric abdominal MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the image quality between conventional volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) and radial VIBE in contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images of paediatric abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during free-breathing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images from paediatric patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI with a 3 T magnet using conventional VIBE (conventional group) and radial VIBE (radial group) while freely breathing were reviewed retrospectively. For objective analysis, the mean values of noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the liver on contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images were compared. For subjective analysis, overall image quality, respiratory motion, portal vein clarity, and hepatic margin sharpness were assessed using four-point scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (mean age of 2.8±2.3 years) in the conventional and 17 patients (mean age of 2.4±2.8 years) in the radial groups were included. According to the objective analysis, the noise was significantly lower and the SNR was significantly higher in the radial group than those in the conventional group (all, p<0.001). In the subjective analysis, overall image quality, respiratory motion, portal vein clarity, and hepatic margin sharpness were all significantly higher in the radial group (all, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paediatric abdominal MRI images with radial VIBE showed lower noise with higher SNR in objective analysis and higher image quality in subjective analysis, compared to conventional VIBE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea. Electronic address: mjkim@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 443-380, South Korea.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D062485:Breath Holding; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media