T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the liver: comparison of fat-suppressed GRASE with conventional spin echo, fat-suppressed turbo spin echo, and gradient echo at 1.0 T.

Abstract

Fat-suppressed T2-weighted gradient and spin echo (GRASE) magnetic resonance imaging in the liver was compared with three other sequences: conventional spin echo (SE), fat-suppressed and respiratory-triggered turbo SE (TSE), and fast field echo (FFE). All sequences were applied in 48 prospective patients. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Biopsy or clinical follow-up established the final diagnosis of the lesions. GRASE showed the second best contrast-to-noise ratio, the second best artifact level, the same lesion detectability as TSE, and very short acquisition time. GRASE and TSE had the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Fat-suppressed GRASE offers a fast and accurate method for imaging the liver.