Feasibility of compressed sensing technique for isotropic dynamic contrast-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging. Issue 139 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Wei; Wang, Wentao; Zhu, Kai; Chen, Cai-zhong; Wen, Xi-Xi; Zeng, Meng-su; Rao, Sheng-Xiang
• Is Part Of: European journal of radiology. Issue 139(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: T1-GRE T1-weighted gradient echo -- CS compressed sensing -- MRI magnetic resonance imaging -- PI parallel imaging -- HCC hepatocellular carcinoma -- RC relative contrast -- VIBE volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination -- LAVA liver acquisition volume acceleration -- eTHRIVE enhanced T1-high resolution isotropic volume excitation -- GRAPPA generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition -- CAIPIRINHA controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration -- SI signal intensity -- ROI regions of interest -- AFP alpha fetoprotein -- SNR signal noise ratio -- CNR contrast noise ratio; Magnetic resonance imaging -- Compressed sensing -- Artifact -- Hepatocellular carcinoma -- Image construction; Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiologie médicale -- Périodiques; Medical radiology; Periodicals; 616.075705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109729
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0720-048X

Abstract

Highlights: The compressed sensing technique can provide higher relative contrast in displaying HCC and hepatic vessels. The overall image quality of the compressed sensing technique is comparable to standard parallel imaging. The multiplanar reformation can be performed based on compressed sensing technique. Abstract: Purpose: To investigate whether an isotropic T1-weighted gradient echo (T1-GRE) sequence using a compressed sensing (CS) technique during liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the image quality compared to that using a standard parallel imaging (PI) technique in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Forty-nine patients with single pathologically confirmed HCC were included in the prospective study, who underwent a 3.0 T MRI including the two T1-GRE sequences (CS and PI). Qualitative analysis including the relative contrast (RC) of liver-to-lesion, liver-to-portal vein and liver-to-hepatic vein on pre-contrast and postcontrast (delayed phase) images were calculated. Respiratory motion artifact, gastrointestinal motion artifact and overall image quality were scored by using a 4-point scale. Results: RC of liver-to-lesion, liver-to-portal vein and liver-to-hepatic vein measured on both pre-contrast and postcontrast phase images were significantly higher for CS than for PI. The scores of overall image quality was comparable between PI and CS (3.98 ± 0.10 vs 3.96 ± 0.13, P = 0.083 for pre-contrast; 3.96 ± 0.16 vs 3.93 ± 0.17, P = 0.132 for postcontrast, respectively). The scores of gastrointestinal motion artifact was significantly higher for PI than for CS (3.92 ± 0.21 vs 3.69 ± 0.33 for pre-contrast; 3.86 ± 0.21 vs 3.59 ± 0.30 for postcontrast, P < 0.001 for both). The scores of respiratory motion artifact was significantly higher for PI only in pre-contrast sequence (3.97±0.11 vs 3.89 ± 0.22, P = 0.002 for pre-contrast; 3.95 ± 0.18 vs 3.90 ± 0.22, P = 0.083 for postcontrast, respectively). Conclusions: Compared to the standard PI sequence, the CS technique can provide greater contrast in displaying HCCs and hepatic vessels in MRI without compromise of overall image quality.