Ferucarbotran-Enhanced Hepatic MRI at 3T Unit: Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison of Fast Breath-hold Imaging Sequences.
10.13104/jksmrm.2010.14.1.31
- Author:
Kyung Eun CHO
1
;
Jeong Sik YU
;
Jae Joon CHUNG
;
Joo Hee KIM
;
Ki Whang KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology and Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. yjsrad97@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Liver neoplasm;
Magnetic resonance (MR);
Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)
- MeSH:
Artifacts;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular;
Chlormequat;
Cholangiocarcinoma;
Humans;
Liver Neoplasms;
Neoplasm Metastasis
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
2010;14(1):31-40
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To compare the relative values of various fast breath-hold imaging sequences for superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO)-enhanced hepatic MRI for the assessment of solid focal lesions with a 3T MRI unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 102 consecutive patients with one or more solid malignant hepatic lesions were evaluated by spoiled gradient echo (GRE) sequences with three different echo times (2.4 msec [GRE_2.4], 5.8 msec [GRE_5.8], and 10 msec [GRE_10]) for T2*-weighted imaging in addition to T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence following intravenous SPIO injection. Image qualities of the hepatic contour, vascular landmarks and artifacts were rated by two independent readers using a four-point scale. For quantitative analysis, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured in 170 solid focal lesions larger than 1 cm (107 hepatocellular carcinomas, nine cholangiocarcinomas and 54 metastases). RESULTS: GRE_5.8 showed the highest mean points for hepatic contour, vascular anatomy and imaging artifact presence among all of the subjected sequences (p<0.001) and was comparable (p=0.414) with GRE_10 with regard to lesion conspicuity. The mean CNRs were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the following order: GRE_10 (24.4+/-14.5), GRE_5.8 (14.8+/-9.4), TSE (9.7+/-6.3), and GRE_2.4 (7.9+/-6.4). The mean CNRs of CCCs and metastases were higher than those of HCCs for all imaging sequences (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Regarding overall performances, GRE using a moderate echo time of 5.8 msec can provide the most reliable data among the various fast breath-hold SPIO-enhanced hepatic MRI sequences at 3T unit despite the lower CNR of GRE_5.8 compared to that of GRE_10.
