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European Radiology

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01-05-2021 | Breast

Accelerating acquisition of readout-segmented echo planar imaging with a simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) technique for diagnosing breast lesions

Authors: Yiqi Hu, Chenao Zhan, Zhenlu Yang, Xiaoyong Zhang, Huiting Zhang, Wei Liu, Liming Xia, Tao Ai

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 5/2021

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of SMS rs-EPI for evaluating breast lesions.

Methods

This prospective study was approved by IRB. Ninety-six patients had 102 histopathologically verified lesions (80 malignant and 22 benign) that were evaluated. Conventional rs-EPI and SMS rs-EPI data were acquired on a 3T scanner. Mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusion (MD), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were quantitatively calculated for each lesion on both sequences. Images were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed with respect to image sharpness, geometric distortion, lesion conspicuity, anatomic structure, overall image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Student’s t test, Pearson correlation, receiver operating characteristic curve, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and paired-sample t tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Compared to conventional rs-EPI, the acquisition time of SMS rs-EPI was markedly reduced (2:17 min vs 4:27 min). Pearson’s correlations showed excellent linear relationships for each parameter between conventional rs-EPI and SMS rs-EPI (MK, r = 0.908; MD, r = 0.938; and ADC, r = 0.975; p < 0.01 for all). Furthermore, SMS rs-EPI had similar diagnostic performance compared with conventional rs-EPI. SMS rs-EPI had comparable visual image quality as conventional rs-EPI, with excellent inter-reader reliability (ICC = 0.851–0.940). No differences existed between conventional rs-EPI and SMS rs-EPI for either SNR or CNR (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Applying the SMS technique can significantly reduce the acquisition time and produce similar diagnostic accuracy while generating comparable image quality as the conventional rs-EPI.

Key Points

• SMS rs-EPI reduces scan time from 4:27 min to 2:17 min compared with conventional rs-EPI.

• SMS rs-EPI has a comparable diagnostic performance to conventional rs-EPI in the differentiation between malignant and benign breast lesions.

• SMS rs-EPI demonstrates comparable image quality to conventional rs-EPI with shorter scan time.

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Title: Accelerating acquisition of readout-segmented echo planar imaging with a simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) technique for diagnosing breast lesions
Authors: Yiqi Hu
Chenao Zhan
Zhenlu Yang
Xiaoyong Zhang
Huiting Zhang
Wei Liu
Liming Xia
Tao Ai
Publication date: 01-05-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 5/2021
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07393-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Accelerating acquisition of readout-segmented echo planar imaging with a simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) technique for diagnosing breast lesions

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

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