Fast MR imaging of the liver: Quantitative comparison of techniques

Bettina Siewert*, Markus F. Müller, Matthew Foley, Piotr A. Wielopolski, J. Paul Finn

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare several techniques for fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients (37 men and 53 women, aged 19-92 years [mean, 54 years]) with 137 focal liver lesions (56 metastases, 13 hepatocellular carcinomas, 52 hemangiomas, 16 cysts) underwent MR imaging with rapid acquisition spin-echo (RASE), T1- weighted fast low-angle shot (FLASH), turboFLASH, segmented turboFLASH, and T2-weighted conventional and turbo spin echo (SE). Images were analyzed for spleen-to-liver and lesion-to-liver signal difference-to-noise ratios (SD/Ns). RESULTS: Turbo SE T2-weighted imaging had the highest SD/N for spleen-to-liver (P < .01) and for lesion-to-liver (P < .02) contrast. Segmented T1-weighted turboFLASH imaging had the second highest SD/N for spleen-to-liver (P < .001) contrast and was better overall than other T1- weighted sequences for depicting liver lesions (P < .01). Results at segmented turboFLASH imaging were second best for hemangiomas (P < .01). For metastases, no significant difference was found for results with the T1- weighted sequences. CONCLUSION: Segmented T1-weighted turboFLASH and turbo SE T2-weighted imaging have advantages over conventional techniques for liver imaging.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-42
Number of pages6
JournalRadiology
Volume193
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1994
Externally publishedYes

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