Liver T2-weighted MR imaging: assessment of a three-dimensional fast spin-echo with extended echo train acquisition...

To retrospectively compare image quality and lesion detectability with two T2-weighted sequences at 1.5 Tesla (T): respiratory-triggered three-dimensional fat sat fast-spin-echo with extended echo-train acquisition (3D FSE-XETA) and respiratory-triggered two-dimensional fat-sat fast recovery fast-spin-echo (2D FRFSE).

MR was performed at 1.5T in 53 consecutive patients. Two radiologists blinded to the sequence details reviewed the studies to determine: (i) signal and contrast to noise ratios, (ii) overall image quality, (iii) sensitivity for focal lesion detection.

Image assessment scores for the 2D FRFSE sequence were significantly higher than those for the 3D FSE-XETA sequence for overall image quality (P < 0.01) and artifacts (P < 0.001). Sensitivity for liver lesion detection was higher with the 3D FSE-XETA sequence (69.3% versus 57.3%; P < 0.05) compared with the 2D FRFSE sequence. The 3D FSE-XETA sequence improves the reader confidence score (P < 0.01) for liver lesions detection. Inter-observer correlation was higher with the 3D FSE-XETA sequence.

For T2-weighted liver imaging at 1.5T, the 3D FSE-XETA sequence improves sensitivity, reader confidence score and interobserver correlation for focal liver lesion detection, but it suffers from a lower overall image quality and higher artifacts.