Guido Matthias Kukuk MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Juergen Gieseke DSc, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV

Frank Traeber PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sebastian Weber, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hans H. Schild MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Winfried Albert Willinek MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speakers Bureau, Bayer AG Speakers Bureau, Bracco Group Speakers Bureau, General Electric Company Speakers Bureau, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV Speakers Bureau, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc

To prospectively compare T2-weighted TSE sequences acquired using parallel and conventional RF transmission at 3.0 Tesla for liver lesion detection, image quality and lesion conspicuity.

After written informed consent and institutional review board approval 52 consecutive patients (32 male, 20 female, mean age 56.6±13.7) underwent a routine MR sequence protocol. For all examinations, a clinical 3.0T MRI system (Philips Achieva 3.0T TX) equipped with a parallel RF transmission system was used. Two independent readers reviewed T2-weighted TSE images acquired with a conventional and parallel RF transmission technology for detection of focal liver lesions in separate reading sessions. Reference standard was a consensus reading 8 weeks after the initial evaluation, which included clinical history, all imaging studies available, histopathologic findings and follow-up studies. Image quality and lesion conspicuity were rated on a 5-/3-point-evaluation scale.

According to the reference standard a total number of 105 index lesions were identified. Detection rate significantly improved from 88% to 98% (Reader 1) and from 86% to 97% (Reader 2) using parallel RF transmission (p<0.01). Image quality of T2-weighted imaging using parallel RF transmission was scored significantly higher as compared to that with conventional RF transmission by both readers (Reader 1, 2.88±0.73 vs.4.04±0.44; Reader 2, 2.81±0.72 vs.4.04±0.39; both p<0.0001). Lesion conspicuity was scored to be significantly better using parallel RF transmission (Reader 1, 2.02±0.64 vs.2.92±0.27; Reader 2, 2.06±0.67 vs.2.90±0.30; both p<0.0001). Interobserver agreement was very good for all readings (kappa > 0.8, respectively).

Parallel RF transmission significantly improves liver lesion detection rate, image quality and lesion conspicuity in T2-weighted liver MRI in comparison to conventional MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla.

Lesion detectability, lesion conspicuity and image quality of T2-weighted liver MRI at 3.0T improve significantly when using the technique of parallel RF transmission.

Kukuk, G, Gieseke, J, Traeber, F, Weber, S, Schild, H, Willinek, W, Lesion Detectability and Image Quality in Clinical T2-weighted Liver MR Imaging Using Parallel RF Transmission at 3.0 Tesla.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9014963.html