Comparison of image quality between conventional VIBE and radial VIBE in free-breathing paediatric abdominal MRI

To compare the image quality between conventional volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) and radial VIBE in contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images of paediatric abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during free-breathing.

Images from paediatric patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI with a 3 T magnet using conventional VIBE (conventional group) and radial VIBE (radial group) while freely breathing were reviewed retrospectively. For objective analysis, the mean values of noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the liver on contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images were compared. For subjective analysis, overall image quality, respiratory motion, portal vein clarity, and hepatic margin sharpness were assessed using four-point scales.

Nine patients (mean age of 2.8±2.3 years) in the conventional and 17 patients (mean age of 2.4±2.8 years) in the radial groups were included. According to the objective analysis, the noise was significantly lower and the SNR was significantly higher in the radial group than those in the conventional group (all, p<0.001). In the subjective analysis, overall image quality, respiratory motion, portal vein clarity, and hepatic margin sharpness were all significantly higher in the radial group (all, p<0.001).

Paediatric abdominal MRI images with radial VIBE showed lower noise with higher SNR in objective analysis and higher image quality in subjective analysis, compared to conventional VIBE.