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MRI evaluation of soft tissue tumors: comparison of a fast, isotropic, 3D T2-weighted fat-saturated sequence with a conventional 2D T2-weighted fat-saturated sequence for tumor characteristics, resolution, and acquisition time

  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To test whether a 4-fold accelerated 3D T2-weighted (T2) CAIPIRINHA SPACE TSE sequence with isotropic voxel size is equivalent to conventional 2DT2 TSE for the evaluation of intrinsic and perilesional soft tissue tumors (STT) characteristics.

Methods

For 108 patients with histologically-proven STTs, MRI, including 3DT2 (CAIPIRINHA SPACE TSE) and 2DT2 (TSE) sequences, was performed. Two radiologists evaluated each sequence for quality (diagnostic, non-diagnostic), tumor characteristics (heterogeneity, signal intensity, margin), and the presence or absence of cortical involvement, marrow edema, and perilesional edema (PLE); tumor size and PLE extent were measured. Signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios and acquisition times for 2DT2 in two planes and 3DT2 sequences were reported. Descriptive statistics and inter-method agreement were reported.

Results

Image quality was diagnostic for all sequences (100% [108/108]). No difference was observed between 3DT2 and 2DT2 tumor characteristics (p < 0.05). There was no difference in mean tumor size (3DT2: 2.9 ± 2.5 cm, 2DT2: 2.8 ± 2.6 cm, p = 0.4) or PLE extent (3DT2:0.5 ± 1.2 cm, 2DT2:0.5 ± 1.0 cm, p = 0.9) between the sequences. There was no difference in the SNR of tumors, marrow, and fat between the sequences, whereas the SNR of muscle was higher (p < 0.05) on 3DT2 than 2DT2. CNR measures on 3DT2 were similar to 2DT2 (p > 0.1). The average acquisition time was shorter for 3DT2 compared with 2DT2 (343 ± 127 s vs 475 ± 162 s, respectively).

Conclusion

Isotropic 3DT2 MRI offers higher spatial resolution, faster acquisition times, and equivalent assessments of STT characteristics compared to conventional 2DT2 MRI in two planes. 3DT2 is interchangeable with a 2DT2 sequence in tumor protocols.

Key Points

• Isotropic 3DT2 CAIPIRINHA SPACE TSE offers higher spatial resolution than 2DT2 TSE and is equivalent to 2DT2 TSE for assessments of soft tissue tumor intrinsic and perilesional characteristics.

• Multiplanar reformats of 3DT2 CAIPIRINHA SPACE TSE can substitute for 2DT2 TSE acquired in multiple planes, thereby reducing the acquisition time of MRI tumor protocols.

• 3DT2 CAIPIRINHA SPACE TSE and 2DT2 TSE had similar CNR of tissues.

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Abbreviations

2D:

Two dimensional

3D:

Three dimensional

ADC:

Apparent diffusion coefficient

CAIPIRINHA:

Controlled Aliasing in Parallel Imaging Results in Higher Acceleration

CNR:

Contrast-to-noise ratio

DWI:

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging

FOV:

Field-of-view

FSE:

Fast spin-echo

IW:

Intermediate weighted

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PACS:

Picture archiving and communication system

ROI:

Region of interest

SI:

Signal intensity

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

SPACE:

Sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolution

SPAIR:

Spectral adiabatic inversion-recovery

SPIR:

Spectral presaturation with inversion recovery

TE:

Echo time

TR:

Repetition time

TSE:

Turbo spin echo

TWIST:

Time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories

VIBE:

Volume intercalated breathold exam

W:

Weighted

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Hospital/The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Rodrigo de Castro Luna, Neil M. Kumar, Shivani Ahlawat & Laura M. Fayad

  2. New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Jan Fritz

Authors
  1. Rodrigo de Castro Luna
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  2. Neil M. Kumar
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  3. Jan Fritz
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  4. Shivani Ahlawat
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  5. Laura M. Fayad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura M. Fayad.

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The scientific guarantor of this publication is Laura Fayad.

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The authors of this manuscript declare relationships with the following companies: SIEMENS AG.

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de Castro Luna, R., Kumar, N.M., Fritz, J. et al. MRI evaluation of soft tissue tumors: comparison of a fast, isotropic, 3D T2-weighted fat-saturated sequence with a conventional 2D T2-weighted fat-saturated sequence for tumor characteristics, resolution, and acquisition time. Eur Radiol 32, 8670–8680 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-08937-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-08937-7

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