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MR imaging of the abdomen with a phased-array multicoil: prospective clinical evaluation
N G Campeau1, C D Johnson, J P Felmlee
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Purpose:
To prospectively compare use of a phased-array multicoil and a conventional body coil in abdominal MR imaging.
Materials And Methods:
Thirteen patients (seven men, six women; mean age, 55 years) underwent imaging with a phased-array multicoil and with a conventional body coil. Four pulse sequences were used: T2-weighted spin echo (SE), magnetization-prepared gradient-recalled echo (GRE), breath-hold fast SE, and echo planar (EP).
Results:
Lesion detection improved the most on fast SE, multicoil-acquired images. Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) increased 64% with fast SE (P = .0005) and EP (P < .0109) sequences. Contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) doubled (P < .05) with T2-weighted SE sequences. Lesion conspicuity improved on multicoil-acquired images with all fast sequences (magnetization-prepared GRE, P = .015; fast SE, P = .002; EP imaging, P = .013). There was little difference in respiratory and vascular artifact. Depiction of most abdominal structures improved (P < .01).
Conclusion:
Use of the phased-array multicoil provides better MR images of the abdomen than does use of a conventional body coil.