Unni K. Udayasankar MD, FRCR, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Chakradhar Reddy Thupili MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jennifer Bullen MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Neil Vachhani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ellen Park MD, MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

BLADE MRI sequence has been used to mitigate the motion artifact seen with T2-weighted imaging of the abdomen, and thus could improve the accuracy of abdominal MRI in children. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the BLADE MRI in comparison to the standard HASTE sequence in pediatric abdominal MRI. 

Fifty eight consecutive pediatric subjects (M:F 25:33) who underwent MRI study of the abdomen were included in this IRB approved study. Axial T2 BLADE and HASTE T2 FSE sequences were acquired on a 1.5T scanner as part of the protocol. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated the images for image quality, presence of artifacts (respiratory, bowel motion, and other) , sharpness of liver margins, conspicuity and sharpness of the portal triad, and lesion conspicuity. For quantitative comparison, ROIs were placed in similar areas of fat and air to measure signal intensity and noise levels. Wilcoxon signed rank test (qualitative) and paired t test (quantitative) were used for statistical evaluation. 

The BLADE images were significantly superior for sharpness of the liver edge, definition of portal triad, and for respiratory motion artifacts on subjective evaluation (p < 0.001 for both readers). 30/58 studies demonstrated intra-abdominal lesions, and BLADE images also demonstrated significantly improved lesion conspicuity (p < 0.001 for both readers). No significant difference was noted for the bowel motion or other artifacts. Quantitative analysis revealed the image intensity and image noise were better with BLADE sequence.  

In pediatric abdominal MRI,  BLADE T2 weighted images demonstrate significantly improved image quality with better definition of the portal triad, liver edge and with reduced respiratory motion artifact when compared with the standard HASTE T2 sequence.

BLADE T2 weighted sequence improves overall image quality of abdominal MRI in children and could function as an alternative to standard single shot fast spin echo sequence.  

Udayasankar, U, Thupili, C, Bullen, J, Vachhani, N, Park, E, Utility of a Motion Correction with Radial Blades (BLADE) MRI Sequence over Standard Single Shot Turbo Spin Echo (HASTE) T2 Weighted Imaging in Pediatric Abdominal MRI .  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011405.html