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Gradient‐ and spin‐echo T2‐weighted imaging for SPIO‐enhanced detection and characterization of focal liver lesions
Author(s) -
Yoshikawa Takeshi,
Mitchell Donald G.,
Hirota Shozo,
Ohno Yoshiharu,
Oda Kazushige,
Maeda Takaki,
Fujii Masahiko,
Sugimura Kazuro
Publication year - 2006
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.20572
Subject(s) - nuclear medicine , cirrhosis , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , spin echo , image quality , radiology , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
Purpose To evaluate superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)‐enhanced breathhold T2‐weighted GRASE imaging in detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Materials and Methods In 30 patients (including 20 with cirrhosis) with 39 malignant and 25 benign lesions, gradient‐ and spin‐echo (GRASE) images with two echo times (75 and 90 msec; GRASE 75 and GRASE 90 ) were obtained prior to and following administration of SPIO, and compared with respiratory‐triggered and breathhold fast spin‐echo (RT‐FSE and BH‐FSE) images. Two readers evaluated image quality and reviewed 240 liver segments for sensitivity and specificity. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), and its reduction in liver and spleen after administration of SPIO, and lesion‐to‐liver contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were measured. Results Compared with RT‐FSE and BH‐FSE, GRASE reduced scan time by 77% to 82% and 21% to 27%, respectively. The image qualities with BH‐FSE and GRASE 75 were higher than with BH‐FSE and GRASE 90 . BH‐FSE showed higher specificity than RT‐FSE and GRASE 90 , but otherwise there were no significant differences between pulse sequences for sensitivity or specificity. The mean SNR and CNR of the lesions with RT‐FSE were significantly higher than with the other methods. SPIO‐induced signal reduction of liver SNR was smallest with BH‐FSE. Conclusion GRASE is faster and more sensitive to SPIO than FSE, but its sensitivity and specificity were slightly inferior to those of BH‐FSE. Image quality is a current limitation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.