Compressed sensing and parallel imaging accelerated T2 FSE sequence for head and neck MR imaging: Comparison of its utility in routine clinical practice

Purpose: To directly compare the capability of compressed sensing (CS) and parallel imaging (PI) accelerated T2 FSE (Fast Spin Echo) sequence with PI for head and neck MR imaging.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with various head and neck diseases (15 men and 15 women, mean age 53 ± 22 years) underwent MR imaging by PI with CS and by PI. Reduction factors were as follows: PI with CS, 3 and PI, 1.5. Examination times for PI with CS and PI were all recorded. For quantitative image quality assessment, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. For qualitative assessment, two investigators assessed overall image quality, artifacts and diagnostic confidence level using a 5-point scoring system, and final scores were determined by consensus of two readers. Mean examination time and all indexes were compared by means of paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Inter-observer agreement for each qualitative index was assessed in terms of kappa statistics.

Results: Mean examination time for PI with CS (83.5 ± 11.0 s) was significantly shorter than that for PI (173.0 ± 54.4 s, p < 0.0001). SNR and CNR of PI with CS were significantly better than those with PI (mean SNR; 11.2 ± 3.6 vs 8.9 ± 2.6, median of CNR; 7.4 vs. 6.1, p < 0.0001). All inter-observer agreements were assessed as significant and substantial (0.62 < κ < 0.81).

Conclusion: PI with CS accelerated T2 weighted sequence performs equally well or even slightly better than its PI accelerated, conventional counterpart at reduced scan times in the context of head and neck MR imaging.