Improved focal liver lesion detection: comparison of single-shot diffusion-weighted echoplanar and single-shot T-2 weighted turbo spin echo techniques

K. Coenegrachts, J. Delanote, L. ter Beek, M. Haspeslagh, S. Bipat, J. Stoker, F. van Kerkhove, L. Steyaert, H. Rigauts, J. W. Casselman

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare diffusion-weighted respiratory-triggered single-shot spin echo echoplanar imaging (SS SE-EPI) sequence using four b-values (b=0, b=20, b=300, b=800 s mm(-2)) and single-shot T-2 weighted turbo spin echo (T2W SS TSE) in patients with focal liver lesions, with special interest in small ( <10 mm) lesions. Twenty-four patients underwent routine MRI The five sequences were compared qualitatively for image quality, lesion conspicuity and artefacts. Quantitative analysis was performed for lesion identification and lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Subgroup analyses were performed for different types of lesions with different sizes. Sequences were compared by rank order statistic (RIDIT) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The best image quality (p <0.05) was achieved with T2W TSE and the best lesion conspicuity (p <0.05) with T2W TSE for biliary cysts and SE-EPI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) (b=20 s mm(-2)) for haemangiomas and metastases. Image artefacts were lowest (p <0.05) with T2W TSE. T2W TSE was found to be the best protocol (p <0.05) for the identification of biliary cysts and SE-EPI DWI (b=20 s mm(-2) for haemangiomas and metastases. The lesion-to-liver CNRs were highest on T2W TSE for biliary cysts and on SE-EPI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for haemangiomas and metastases (p <0.05). This study shows the potential of SS SE-EIPI DWI (especially with a b-value of 20 s mm(-2)) as a promising technique for detecting small ( <10 mm) focal liver lesions. (C) 2007 The British Institute of Radiology
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)524-531
JournalBritish journal of radiology
Volume80
Issue number955
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

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