Accelerated 3D high-resolution T2-weighted breast MRI with deep learning constrained compressed sensing, comparison with conventional T2-weighted sequence on 3.0 T. Issue 156 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Fan; Pan, Xuelin; Zhu, Ke; Xiao, Yitian; Yue, Xun; Peng, Pengfei; Zhang, Xiaoyong; Huang, Juan; Chen, Jie; Yuan, Yuan; Sun, Jiayu
• Is Part Of: European journal of radiology. Issue 156(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Breast MRI -- Compressed sensing -- Integrating artificial intelligence -- 3D T2WI; Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiologie médicale -- Périodiques; Medical radiology; Periodicals; 616.075705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0720-048X

Abstract

Highlights: In conventional breast T2WI, the thick layer limits the appearance of small lesions, due to the partial volume effect. AI-CS 3D T2WI can be acquired in addition to conventional 2D T2WI in breast imaging. AI-CS 3D T2WI was significantly better than conventional T2WI in qualitative analysis and lesion contrast ratio. Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of isotropic 3D high-resolution T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) MRI sequences and compare the images reconstructed by integrating artificial intelligence-compressed sensing (AI-CS), compressed sensing (CS), and conventional 2D T2WI sequences for quality. Materials and methods: Fifty-two female patients (ages: 26–80 years) with suspected breast cancer were enrolled. They underwent breast MRI examinations using three sequences: conventional T2WI, CS 3D T2WI, and AI-CS 3D T2WI. Image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio, tumor volume, and maximal tumor diameter were compared using the Friedman test. Image quality was scored on a 5-point scale, with 1 indicating nonassessable quality and 5 indicating excellent quality. Tumor volume and maximal tumor diameter were compared based on AI-CS 3D T2WI (slightly high signal), conventional T2WI, and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) sequences. Results: All three T2WI were successfully performed in all patients. 3D CS and AI-CS were significantly better than conventional T2WI in terms of lesion conspicuity and morphology, structural details, overall image quality, diagnostic information for breast lesions, and breast tissue delineation ( P < 0.001). The SNR of conventional T2WI was significantly higher for 3D T2WI sequences. The contrast-to-noise ratio was significantly higher for AI-CS 3D T2WI than for conventional T2WI sequence. There was no significant difference in tumor volume between DCE (8.08 ± 16.51) and AI-CS 3D T2WI (8.25 ± 16.29) sequences and no significant differences in tumor diameter among DCE, AI-CS 3D T2WI, and conventional T2WI sequences. Conclusion: Isotropic-resolution 3D T2WI sequences can be acquired using AI-CS while maintaining image quality and diagnostic value, which may pave the way for isotropic 3D high-resolution T2WI for clinical application.