Time-resolved echo-shared parallel MRA of the lung: observer preference study of image quality in comparison with non-echo-shared sequences

Eur Radiol. 2005 Oct;15(10):2070-4. doi: 10.1007/s00330-005-2831-9. Epub 2005 Jun 30.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the image quality of time-resolved echo-shared parallel MRA of the lung. The pulmonary vasculature of nine patients (seven females, two males; median age: 44 years) with pulmonary disease was examined using a time-resolved MRA sequence combining echo sharing with parallel imaging (time-resolved echo-shared angiography technique, or TREAT). The sharpness of the vessel borders, conspicuousness of peripheral lung vessels, artifact level, and overall image quality of TREAT was assessed independently by four readers in a side-by-side comparison with non-echo-shared time-resolved parallel MRA data (pMRA) previously acquired in the same patients. Furthermore, the SNR of pulmonary arteries (PA) and veins (PV) achieved with both pulse sequences was compared. The mean voxel size of TREAT MRA was decreased by 24% compared with the non-echo-shared MRA. Regarding the sharpness of the vessel borders, conspicuousness of peripheral lung vessels, and overall image quality the TREAT sequence was rated superior in 75-76% of all cases. If the TREAT images were preferred over the pMRA images, the advantage was rated as major in 61-71% of all cases. The level of artifacts was not increased with the TREAT sequence. The mean interobserver agreement for all categories ranged between fair (artifact level) and good (overall image quality). The maximum SNR of TREAT did not differ from non-echo-shared parallel MRA (PA: TREAT: 273+/-45; pMRA: 280+/-71; PV: TREAT: 273+/-33; pMRA: 258+/-62). TREAT achieves a higher spatial resolution than non-echo-shared parallel MRA which is also perceived as an improved image quality.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Echo-Planar Imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / pathology
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Retrospective Studies