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Improved focal liver lesion detection: Comparison of single‐shot spin‐echo echo‐planar and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)‐enhanced MRI
Author(s) -
Coenegrachts Kenneth,
Orlent Hans,
ter Beek Leon,
Haspeslagh Marc,
Bipat Shandra,
Stoker Jaap,
Rigauts Hans
Publication year - 2008
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.21247
Subject(s) - medicine , fast spin echo , lesion , hepatocellular carcinoma , nuclear medicine , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , pathology
Purpose To prospectively compare single‐shot spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging (SSSE‐EPI) using b = 0, 10, 150, and 400 seconds/mm 2 with standard MRI techniques after intravenous super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions with focus on small (<10 mm) focal liver lesions. Materials and Methods A total of 25 patients suspected for colorectal liver metastases were included. Number of detected lesions was evaluated. Image quality was compared between SSSE‐EPI sequence and post‐SPIO (fat‐suppressed T1‐weighted [T1w] gradient echo [GE], T2‐weighted [T2w] turbo spin echo [TSE] and T2* GE) sequences using rank order statistic (RIDIT). Lesion characterization was performed for SSSE‐EPI and for all remaining sequences pre‐ and post‐SPIO. Reference standard comprised surgery, biopsy, and/or follow‐up. Results Reference standard demonstrated 25 hemangiomas and 70 metastases. Best lesion detection respectively best image quality ( P < 0.05) was achieved with SSSE‐EPI (b = 10 seconds/mm 2 ) post‐SPIO T1w GE and T2w turbo spin echo. Lesion characterization using all sequences pre‐ and post‐SPIO performed best for lesion characterization compared with SSSE‐EPI. Conclusion This preliminary study shows the potential of SSSE‐EPI as a stand‐alone sequence for the detection of liver hemangiomas and metastases when compared with SPIO‐enhanced imaging. Sequences pre‐ and post‐SPIO are needed for qualitative lesion characterization. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.