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High-resolution T1-weighted gradient echo imaging for liver MRI using parallel imaging at high-acceleration factors

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Abdominal Imaging Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether application of a high-acceleration parallel acquisition can provide three-dimensional (3D)-fat-suppressed T1-weighted gradient-recalled-echo (T1W-GRE) imaging at 3T for liver MR imaging.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board. Seventy patients underwent liver MRI at a 3T scanner. After administration of a standard dose of Gadoxetic acid for 20 min, 3D-T1W-GRE images were obtained twice using sensitivity encoding with acceleration factors (AFs) 2.6 [332 × 298 matrix, 3-mm slice thickness (ST)] and 4 (380 × 320 matrix, 1.5-mm ST). The image qualities of the two image sets were graded using a five-point scale.

Results

The high-resolution (HR) 3D-T1W-GRE image sets were obtained with an AF 4 within a single breath-hold (18.5 s). It showed a better anatomic depiction than conventional 3D-T1W-GRE image sets with an AF 2.6 (p < 0.05). Although the image noise was higher on the HR image sets (p < 0.05), the HR image sets showed better lesion conspicuity and overall image quality than the conventional image sets (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

With the use of high AFs, HR 3D-T1W-GRE imaging was demonstrated to be clinically more feasible and advantageous than the conventional 3D-T1W-GRE.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Bonnie Hami, M.A. (USA), for her editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Jeong Hee Yoon, Jeong Min Lee, Mi Hye Yu, Joon Koo Han & Byung Ihn Choi

  2. Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jeong Min Lee, Joon Koo Han & Byung Ihn Choi

  3. Philips Healthcare Korea, Seoul, Korea

    Eun Ju Kim

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  1. Jeong Hee Yoon
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Correspondence to Jeong Min Lee.

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Yoon, J.H., Lee, J.M., Yu, M.H. et al. High-resolution T1-weighted gradient echo imaging for liver MRI using parallel imaging at high-acceleration factors. Abdom Imaging 39, 711–721 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-014-0099-8

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