MRI of the lung: Value of different turbo spin-echo, single-shot turbo spin-echo, and 3D gradient-echo pulse sequences for the detection of pulmonary metastases

✍ Scribed by Melanie Bruegel; Jochen Gaa; Klaus Woertler; Carl Ganter; Simone Waldt; Claudia Hillerer; Ernst J. Rummeny

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 343 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-1807
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20824

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the value of different MRI sequences of the lung for the detection of pulmonary metastases.

Materials and Methods

A total of 28 patients with 225 pulmonary metastases confirmed at multidetector‐row computed tomography (MDCT) underwent MRI of the lung, including breathhold T2‐weighted single‐shot turbo spin‐echo (half‐Fourier single‐shot turbo spin‐echo [HASTE] and inversion recovery [IR]‐HASTE) and conventional turbo spin‐echo (TSE and short‐tau inversion recovery [STIR]) sequences, a respiratory‐ and pulse‐triggered black‐blood STIR sequence (triggered STIR), and breathhold pre‐ and postcontrast volumetric interpolated 3D gradient‐echo (VIBE) sequences. MR images were reviewed by three independent observers and results were correlated with MDCT, which served as standard of reference. Lesion‐to‐lung contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNRs) and image artifacts were also assessed.

Results

CNRs were highest on TSE images (P < 0.001). Mean sensitivities for lesion detection with triggered STIR, TSE, and STIR were 72.0%, 69.0%, and 63.4%, respectively. With HASTE, IR‐HASTE, and pre‐ and postcontrast VIBE, significantly lower sensitivities were obtained (P < 0.05), although artifacts due to physiological motion were less distinct with these sequences compared to TSE and STIR (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Conventional TSE sequences are more sensitive in depicting pulmonary metastases than single‐shot TSE or 3D gradient‐echo sequences. Respiratory and pulse triggering can improve lesion detection, but increases acquisition time substantially. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.