Focal liver lesions at 3 Tesla: Detection rate, image quality and lesion contrast using parallel and conventional RF transmission

• Published in: RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren
• Main Authors: Kukuk, GM, Gieseke, J, Hadizadeh, D, Träber, F, Weber, S, Schild, HH, Willinek, WA
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2010
• ISSN: 1438-9029; 1438-9010
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268261

Purpose: To prospectively compare T2-weighted TSE sequences acquired using parallel and conventional RF transmission at 3.0 Tesla for liver lesion detection, image quality, lesion conspicuity and lesion contrast. Materials and Methods : After written informed consent and institutional review board approval 52 consecutive patients (32 male, 20 female, mean age 56.6±13.7 years) underwent a routine MR protocol on a clinical 3.0 T MRI scanner (Philips Achieva 3.0T TX). Two independent readers reviewed T2-weighted TSE images acquired with conventional and parallel dual source RF transmission technology for detection of focal liver lesions. Reference standard was a separate reading performed by a third radiologist, including all available imaging, clinical history, and histopathology. Image quality and lesion conspicuity were rated on a 5-/3-point-evaluation scale. Contrast ratios were calculated between focal liver lesions and adjacent liver parenchyma. Statistical significances were calculated using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank and the marginal homogeneity tests. Results : According to the reference standard a total of 106 index lesions were identified. Detection rate significantly improved from 87% (92/106) to 97% (102/106) (Reader 1) and from 85% (90/106) to 96% (102/106) (Reader 2) using parallel RF transmission (Reader 1, p=0.0078; Reader 2, p=0.0020). Image quality of T2-weighted imaging using parallel RF transmission was scored significantly higher compared to conventional RF transmission (Reader 1, 2.88±0.73 vs.4.04±0.44; Reader 2, 2.81±0.72 vs.4.04±0.39; both p<0.0001). Lesion conspicuity was scored significantly higher using parallel RF transmission (Reader 1, 2.02±0.64 vs.2.92±0.27; Reader 2, 2.06±0.67 vs.2.90±0.30; both p<0.0001). Contrast ratios were significantly higher using parallel RF transmission (p<0.05). Conclusion : Parallel RF transmission significantly improves liver lesion detection rate, image quality, lesion conspicuity, and lesion contrast for T2-weighted liver MRI in comparison to conventional MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla.