Image quality comparison of 1.5T and 3T prostate MRIs of the same post-hip arthroplasty patients: multi-rater
Hirotsugu Nakai1, Naoki Takahashi1, Mark D Sugi2
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Objectives:
To compare the image quality of 1.5T and 3T prostate MRIs of the same post-hip arthroplasty patients, with a specific focus on the degree of susceptibility artifacts.
Methods:
This single-center retrospective study included post-hip arthroplasty patients who underwent 1.5T prostate MRIs between 2021 and 2023, as well as comparative 3T prostate MRIs. Three blinded abdominal radiologists retrospectively reviewed their diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI, 50 s/mm2), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE) to evaluate the image quality. The degree of susceptibility artifacts was categorized using a three-point scale, with 3 indicating the least artifact and 1 indicating the most. Image quality was also evaluated using Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) version 2. The median of the three raters' scores was compared between 1.5T and 3T prostate MRIs using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The inter-rater agreement was evaluated using the multi-rater generalized kappa.
Results:
Twenty pairs of 1.5T and 3T prostate MRI examinations from 20 unique patients were included. The DWI susceptibility artifact score at 1.5T was significantly higher than at 3T (mean score ± standard deviation, 2.80 ± 0.41 vs. 2.35 ± 0.93, p = 0.014). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the susceptibility artifact scores in T2WI and DCE, or in the PI-QUAL score. The inter-reader agreement in the susceptibility artifact score was moderate (multi-rater generalized kappa: 0.60) in DWI, perfect in T2WI (not applicable), and substantial (0.65) in DCE. The inter-reader agreement was fair (0.27) in the PI-QUAL score.
Conclusion:
Using 1.5T scanners may be preferable to reduce susceptibility artifacts from hip prostheses in DWI.
Insights
For patients with hip prostheses, 1.5T MRI is preferable to 3T MRI for reducing susceptibility artifacts in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). This finding aids in optimizing prostate MRI quality for this patient group.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Prostate MRI is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Hip arthroplasty implants can cause susceptibility artifacts, degrading image quality.
- Comparing MRI field strengths is essential for optimizing imaging protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare image quality between 1.5T and 3T prostate MRIs in patients with hip arthroplasty.
- To specifically evaluate the degree of susceptibility artifacts at different field strengths.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 20 pairs of 1.5T and 3T prostate MRIs from patients with hip prostheses.
- Radiologists assessed diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE) for artifacts.
- Susceptibility artifacts were scored on a 3-point scale; Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) v2 was also used.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher DWI susceptibility artifact scores were observed at 1.5T compared to 3T (p=0.014).
- No significant differences in T2WI or DCE susceptibility artifact scores, or PI-QUAL scores, between the two field strengths.
- Moderate to substantial inter-reader agreement for artifact scoring in DWI and DCE.
Conclusions:
- 1.5T MRI may be preferred over 3T MRI to minimize susceptibility artifacts in DWI for patients with hip prostheses.
- This preference can lead to improved diagnostic accuracy in prostate imaging for this specific population.
