BACKGROUND: Pediatric body MRI exams often cover multiple body parts, making the development of broadly applicable protocols and obtaining uniform fat suppression a challenge. Volumetric T2 imaging with Dixon-type fat-water separation might address this challenge, but it is a lengthy process. OBJECTIVE: We develop and evaluate a faster two-echo approach to volumetric T2 imaging with fat-water separation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A volumetric spin-echo sequence was modified to include a second shifted echo so two image sets are acquired. A region-growing reconstruction approach was developed to decompose separate water and fat images. Twenty-six children were recruited with IRB approval and informed consent. Fat-suppression quality was graded by two pediatric radiologists and compared against conventional fat-suppressed fast spin-echo T2-W images. Additionally, the value of in- and opposed-phase images was evaluated. RESULTS: Fat suppression on volumetric images had high quality in 96% of cases (95% confidence interval of 80-100%) and were preferred over or considered equivalent to conventional two-dimensional fat-suppressed FSE T2 imaging in 96% of cases (95% confidence interval of 78-100%). In- and opposed-phase images had definite value in 12% of cases. CONCLUSION: Volumetric fat-water separated T2-weighted MRI is feasible and is likely to yield improved fat suppression over conventional fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging.
BACKGROUND: Pediatric body MRI exams often cover multiple body parts, making the development of broadly applicable protocols and obtaining uniform fat suppression a challenge. Volumetric T2 imaging with Dixon-type fat-water separation might address this challenge, but it is a lengthy process. OBJECTIVE: We develop and evaluate a faster two-echo approach to volumetric T2 imaging with fat-water separation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A volumetric spin-echo sequence was modified to include a second shifted echo so two image sets are acquired. A region-growing reconstruction approach was developed to decompose separate water and fat images. Twenty-six children were recruited with IRB approval and informed consent. Fat-suppression quality was graded by two pediatric radiologists and compared against conventional fat-suppressed fast spin-echo T2-W images. Additionally, the value of in- and opposed-phase images was evaluated. RESULTS: Fat suppression on volumetric images had high quality in 96% of cases (95% confidence interval of 80-100%) and were preferred over or considered equivalent to conventional two-dimensional fat-suppressed FSE T2 imaging in 96% of cases (95% confidence interval of 78-100%). In- and opposed-phase images had definite value in 12% of cases. CONCLUSION: Volumetric fat-water separated T2-weighted MRI is feasible and is likely to yield improved fat suppression over conventional fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging.
Authors: Scott B Reeder; Angel R Pineda; Zhifei Wen; Ann Shimakawa; Huanzhou Yu; Jean H Brittain; Garry E Gold; Christopher H Beaulieu; Norbert J Pelc Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Thorsten A Bley; Oliver Wieben; Christopher J François; Jean H Brittain; Scott B Reeder Journal: J Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 4.813
Authors: Reed F Busse; Anja C S Brau; Anthony Vu; Charles R Michelich; Ersin Bayram; Richard Kijowski; Scott B Reeder; Howard A Rowley Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Colleen M Costelloe; John E Madewell; Vikas Kundra; Robyn K Harrell; Roland L Bassett; Jingfei Ma Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2013-01-03 Impact factor: 2.546