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A 3D Quantification Technique for Liver Fat Fraction Distribution Analysis Using Dixon Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: October 20, 2023
Pelvic imaging using a T1W fat-suppressed three-dimensional dual echo Dixon technique at 3T
Daniel M Cornfeld1, Gary Israel, Shirley M McCarthy
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. daniel.cornfeld@yale.edu
Purpose:
To compare two T1-weighted (T1W) fat-suppressed sequences for 3D breath-hold pre- and postcontrast fat-suppressed T1W imaging of the female pelvis at 3T.
Materials And Methods:
Pelvic MRI scans of 16 female patients were retrospectively identified who were scanned with two 3D breath-hold sequences: 1) a fast spoiled gradient echo sequence with spectral inversion at lipids (SPECIAL) (called 3D FSPGR), and 2) a dual-echo two-point Dixon (DE Dixon) sequence. Contrast between soft tissue and fat, soft tissue and fluid, and fat and fluid was measured on pre- and postcontrast images. Additionally, two readers subjectively scored the images for degree and homogeneity of fat suppression plus presence and severity of artifacts.
Results:
Contrast between muscle and myometrium to fat was improved with the Dixon technique (0.61 vs. 0.09 and 0.7 vs. 0.3, respectively, P < 0.001). Both readers agreed that fat suppression was stronger with the Dixon sequence (P < 0.001 and P = 0.06). Artifacts were equivalent (P = 0.53 and 0.65).
Conclusion:
The 3D DE Dixon sequence achieved stronger fat suppression in the female pelvis when compared to a 3D FSPGR sequence with SPECIAL.
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