Application of Highly Flexible Adaptive Image Receive Coil for Lung MR Imaging Using Zero TE Sequence: Comparison with Conventional Anterior Array Coil.

Kyungsoo Bae,Joonsung Lee,Moon Jung Hwang,Yunsub Jung,Kyung Nyeo Jeon

doi:10.3390/diagnostics12010148

Kyungsoo Bae, Joonsung Lee + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12010148

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Abstract

(1) Background: Highly flexible adaptive image receive (AIR) coil has become available for clinical use. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of AIR anterior array coil in lung MR imaging using a zero echo time (ZTE) sequence compared with conventional anterior array (CAA) coil. (2) Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent lung MR imaging using both AIR coil (ZTE-AIR) and CAA coil (ZTE-CAA) were enrolled. Image quality of ZTE-AIR and ZTE-CAA was quantified by calculating blur metric value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lung parenchyma. Image quality was qualitatively assessed by two independent radiologists. Lesion detection capabilities for lung nodules and emphysema and/or lung cysts were evaluated. Patients’ comfort levels during examinations were assessed. (3) Results: SNR and CNR of lung parenchyma were higher (both p < 0.001) in ZTE-AIR than in ZTE-CAA. Image sharpness was superior in ZTE-AIR (p < 0.001). Subjective image quality assessed by two independent readers was superior (all p < 0.05) in ZTE-AIR. AIR coil was preferred by 64 of 66 patients. ZTE-AIR showed higher (all p < 0.05) sensitivity for sub-centimeter nodules than ZTE-CAA by both readers. ZTE-AIR showed higher (all p < 0.05) sensitivity and accuracy for detecting emphysema and/or cysts than ZTE-CAA by both readers. (4) Conclusions: The use of highly flexible AIR coil in ZTE lung MR imaging can improve image quality and patient comfort. Application of AIR coil in parenchymal imaging has potential for improving delineation of low-density parenchymal lesions and tiny nodules.

Highlights

Magnetic resonance (MR) is an attractive imaging tool that can provide both morphological and functional information of objects without ionizing radiation
It has been shown that integration of ultrashort echo (UTE) or zero echo time (ZTE) in routine chest MR protocol can provide high-resolution structural information of the lung, potentially eliminating the need for CT [3,4,5]
ZTE lung imaging was successfully performed for all patients without any adverse events

Summary

Introduction

Magnetic resonance (MR) is an attractive imaging tool that can provide both morphological and functional information of objects without ionizing radiation. Sequences using very short echo time (TE) such as ultrashort echo (UTE) and zero echo (ZTE) sequences have gained attention due to their capability of imaging ultrashort T2* tissues such as lung, bone, and ligament [2]. It has been shown that integration of UTE or ZTE in routine chest MR protocol can provide high-resolution structural information of the lung, potentially eliminating the need for CT [3,4,5]. A recent direction of research involves respiratory gating of these sequence to generate 4D images for assessing respiratory motion and regional ventilation [7,8]

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