Optimization of Gd-DTPA-enhanced Balanced Turbo Field Echo Sequence in Abdominal Imaging: Clinical Application

Abstract

We performed MRI examinations of patients in order to confirm the enhancement effect of the balanced turbo field echo (bTFE) sequence with centric view ordering and SPIR (SPIR-centric-bTFE) as mentioned in the prior paper, and to evaluate the actual image quality of this sequence. The upper abdomens of 30 patients with various abdominal disorders were examined with the SPIR-centric-bTFE sequence before and after Gd-DTPA administration. To assess the enhancement effect of Gd-DTPA, ROI measurements were taken in the aorta, superior mesenteric artery, portal vein, liver and bile juice in the common bile duct in each patient both in pre- and postcontrast images. Visual evaluations were also carried out in order to depict the peripheral vessels in the peritoneal fat and the apparent brightness of the soft-tissue organs. In all patients, the signal of the arteries after Gd-DTPA administration increased by about 50% compared with precontrast images. On the other hand, the veins and the liver showed a signal gain of less than 20% in postcontrast images. Consequently, only the signal of the arteries appeared enhanced in the postcontrast images. The visual evaluation revealed that postcontrast SPIR-centric-bTFE acquisition can depict the thin vessels clearly and the abdominal soft-tissue organs brightly. The balanced turbo field echo sequence with centric view ordering and SPIR after Gd-DTPA injection was considered the most appropriate protocol when this sequence was employed for abdominal imaging.