PURPOSE: To compare conspicuity and detection rate of hypointense lesions on T1-weighted (T1w) gradient echo (GRE) sequences with low and high flip angles (FA) in hepatocyte phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using gadoxetate disodium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant study was Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved. The study population consisted of patients with hypointense liver lesions undergoing MRI with gadoxetate disodium, with hepatocyte-phase fat suppressed 3D T1w GRE sequences at both low (10-12°) and high (30-35°) FA. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated for liver parenchyma vs. large lesions and common bile duct (CBD) vs. liver. Three radiologists each assigned a conspicuity score (CS) for each lesion detected at low or high FA. Paired Student's t-tests compared the lesion detection (LD) rate using only the hepatocyte phase data set compared with the entire MRI examination, and CS for low and high FA. RESULTS: In all, 57 large and 70 small lesions were identified in 18 patients. Average LD and CS were significantly greater at high FA versus low FA overall (LD 89.0% vs. 79.5%; CS 2.8 vs. 2.2; P < 0.05) and for small lesions (81.4% vs. 65.7%; 2.5 vs. 1.8; P < 0.05). Average liver-to-lesion CNR for large lesions and CBD-to-liver CNR was significantly greater at high FA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increasing the FA in hepatocyte phase MRI with gadoxetate disodium improves hypointense lesion detection and conspicuity, particularly for small lesions.
PURPOSE: To compare conspicuity and detection rate of hypointense lesions on T1-weighted (T1w) gradient echo (GRE) sequences with low and high flip angles (FA) in hepatocyte phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using gadoxetate disodium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant study was Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved. The study population consisted of patients with hypointense liver lesions undergoing MRI with gadoxetate disodium, with hepatocyte-phase fat suppressed 3D T1w GRE sequences at both low (10-12°) and high (30-35°) FA. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated for liver parenchyma vs. large lesions and common bile duct (CBD) vs. liver. Three radiologists each assigned a conspicuity score (CS) for each lesion detected at low or high FA. Paired Student's t-tests compared the lesion detection (LD) rate using only the hepatocyte phase data set compared with the entire MRI examination, and CS for low and high FA. RESULTS: In all, 57 large and 70 small lesions were identified in 18 patients. Average LD and CS were significantly greater at high FA versus low FA overall (LD 89.0% vs. 79.5%; CS 2.8 vs. 2.2; P < 0.05) and for small lesions (81.4% vs. 65.7%; 2.5 vs. 1.8; P < 0.05). Average liver-to-lesion CNR for large lesions and CBD-to-liver CNR was significantly greater at high FA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increasing the FA in hepatocyte phase MRI with gadoxetate disodium improves hypointense lesion detection and conspicuity, particularly for small lesions.
Authors: Mustafa R Bashir; Steven R Breault; Ryan Braun; Richard K Do; Rendon C Nelson; Scott B Reeder Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2014-04-06 Impact factor: 3.173
Authors: So Yeon Kim; En-Haw Wu; Seong Ho Park; Z Jane Wang; Thomas A Hope; Judy Yee; Li-Qin Zhao; Wei-Chou Chang; Benjamin M Yeh Journal: Abdom Radiol (NY) Date: 2016-08
Authors: Taylor R McClellan; Utaroh Motosugi; Michael S Middleton; Brian C Allen; Tracy A Jaffe; Chad M Miller; Scott B Reeder; Claude B Sirlin; Mustafa R Bashir Journal: Radiology Date: 2016-08-10 Impact factor: 11.105