Zhiyang Zhou PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yanbang Lian, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Zhong-Ping Zhang MMedSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wuteng CAO, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jiaying Gong, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Zhengjun Liu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare reformatted images from three-dimensional (3D) CUBE T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR sequence with tri-planar images acquired two-dimensional (2D) T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence in terms of image quality and accuracy of T staging of rectal cancer.

58 patients (mean age, 58.4 years; range, 26-80 years) with rectal cancer conformed by colonoscopy and biopsy were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent pelvic MRI examination at 1.5 T. MRI sequences included a single coronal 3D CUBE T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR sequence with 1.4-mm-thinkness and a 2D T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence in the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes with 5-mm-thickness. The other two planar images of 3D CUBE sequence were reconstructed at GE AW4.5 workstation with 5 mm thickness and no interslice gap. The total acquisition times of two sequences were calculated. Qualitative analyses of image quality and conspicuity between tumor and normal tissue were performed. Two radiologists experienced in colorectal cancer independently assessed the T-stage of local tumor in CUBE and T2-weighted image according to the depth of tumor invasion, circumference and length of intestine involved and the results were compared with histological results respectively. Quantitative values, qualitative scores were analyzed by using the paired t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, respectively.

Mean acquisition time of 3D sequence (384s) was significantly shorter than the acquisition time of 2D sequences in three planes (718s) (p <0.05). Although both readers reached a consensus that 3D CUBE yielded significantly lower image quality than 2D MRI(p < 0.05), tumor conspicuity was superior with the 3D sequence (2.78±0.85 vs 2.21±0.73, t=8.24, P < 0.05), and 3D sequence offered similar accuracy in T stage of rectal cancer compared to 2D sequence(35/58 vs 33/58; t=1.76, P=0.08).

Despite a lower overall image quality, but because of time savings and the versatility of reconstructing images in any orientation without compromise of diagnostic accuracy in T stage of rectal cancer, the 3D CUBE T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence showed certain advantages compared to 2D T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences.

Compared with 2D T2-weighted FSE sequence, 3D CUBE T2-weighted FSE sequence produces a great savings of time and offers a greater tumor conspicuity and the ability to perform multiplanar reformation.

Zhou, Z, Lian, Y, Zhang, Z, CAO, W, Gong, J, Liu, Z, MRI of Rectal Cancer: 3D Cube versus 2D T2-weighted Technique at 1.5 T - Initial Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14018264.html