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Optimization of scanning parameters for MR elastography at 3.0 T clinical unit: volunteer study

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Abstract

Purpose

We sought to optimize scanning parameters for MR elastography at 3.0 T clinical unit.

Materials and methods

10 volunteers were scanned with various magnetization encoding gradient (MEG) frequencies from 60 to 120 Hz at every 10 Hz, with otherwise fixed parameters (external driver frequency/amplitude = 60 Hz/50 %, 10 mm slice thickness, etc.). Images were qualitatively assessed for the degree of image defects, and also quantitatively for the areas without cross-hatching. After determining optimal MEG frequency, external driver amplitudes of 70 % (vs 50 %) and slice thickness of 8 mm (vs 10 mm) were also tested. With the optimized parameters, scans were repeated 1 week after the initial scan, and the repeatability of the liver stiffness measurement was validated.

Results

80 or 90 Hz was shown to be the best MEG frequency. There were no significant differences in the qualitative and quantitative assessment between the two amplitudes and two slice thicknesses; however, 70 % amplitude resulted in discomfort at the chest wall beneath the external acoustic driver. Thus, MEG 80 (or 90) Hz, amplitude 50 %, and thickness 10 (or 8) mm were considered optimal. Repeatability of the liver stiffness measurement was ±10 % (95 % confidence interval).

Conclusions

With the optimized parameters, repeatability of ±10 % in liver stiffness measurement was obtained.

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Acknowledgments

We greatly thank Dr. Richard C. Ehman, Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, for his invaluable advice and comments on our discussion, and also Mr. Kazuyuki Uchiumi and Mr. Hiroyuki Kabasawa, GE Health Care Japan, for their expertise.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan

    Yoshinobu Shinagawa, Toshimichi Mitsufuji, Hiroshi Urakawa, Ayako Morita, Ritsuko Fujimitsu, Koichi Takano & Kengo Yoshimitsu

  2. Radiology Center, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan

    Shoichi Morimoto & Ryuji Nakamuta

Authors
  1. Yoshinobu Shinagawa
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  2. Toshimichi Mitsufuji
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  3. Shoichi Morimoto
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  4. Ryuji Nakamuta
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  5. Hiroshi Urakawa
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  6. Ayako Morita
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  7. Ritsuko Fujimitsu
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  8. Koichi Takano
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  9. Kengo Yoshimitsu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kengo Yoshimitsu.

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Shinagawa, Y., Mitsufuji, T., Morimoto, S. et al. Optimization of scanning parameters for MR elastography at 3.0 T clinical unit: volunteer study. Jpn J Radiol 32, 441–446 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-014-0320-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-014-0320-2

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