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Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver with ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences
Author(s) -
Chappell Karyn E.,
Patel Nayna,
Gatehouse Peter D.,
Main Janice,
Puri Basant K.,
TaylorRobinson Simon D.,
Bydder Graeme M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.10423
Subject(s) - cirrhosis , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , hepatocellular carcinoma , liver disease , chronic liver disease , pulse (music) , liver biopsy , biopsy , gastroenterology , nuclear medicine , radiology , physics , detector , optics
Purpose To assess the feasibility of imaging the liver in volunteers and patients with ultrashort echo time (UTE) pulse sequences. Materials and Methods Seven normal controls as well as 12 patients with biopsy‐proven generalized liver disease and three patients with focal disease were examined using pulse sequences with initial TEs of 0.08 msec followed by three later echoes, with or without frequency‐based fat suppression. T 2 * values were calculated from regions of interest in the liver. Results Good image quality was obtained in each subject. There was a highly significant difference in the mean T 2 * values between the normal controls and patients with generalized liver disease ( P = 0.001). T 2 * was significantly decreased in hemochromatosis ( P = 0.002) and increased in cirrhosis ( P = 0.04), compared with controls. T 2 * also correlated with functional status assessed by Child's grade ( P = 0.001). A hepatocellular carcinoma showed reduced short T 2 components in the region of thermal ablation and evidence of a subcapsular hematoma which were not apparent with conventional imaging. Conclusions Imaging of the liver with UTE sequences showed good image quality and tolerance of abdominal motion. T 2 * was specifically correlated with the presence of hemochromatosis, cirrhosis, and functional grade. Imaging of short T 2 relaxation components may provide useful information in disease. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:709–713. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.