Comparison of lung imaging using three-dimensional ultrashort echo time and zero echo time sequences: preliminary study

ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of using high-resolution volumetric zero echo time (ZTE) sequence in routine lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare free breathing 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) and ZTE lung MRI in terms of image quality and small-nodule detection.Materials and methodsOur Institutional Review Board approved this study. Twenty patients underwent both UTE and ZTE sequences during routine lung MR. UTE and ZTE images were compared in terms of subjective image quality and detection of lung parenchymal signal, intrapulmonary structures, and sub-centimeter nodules. Differences between the two sequences were compared through statistical analysis.ResultsLung parenchyma showed significantly (p<0.05) higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in ZTE than in UTE. The SNR and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of peripheral bronchus and small pulmonary arteries were significantly (all p<0.05) higher in ZTE. Subjective image quality evaluated by two independent radiologists in terms of depicting normal structures and overall acceptability was superior in ZTE (p<0.05). The diagnostic accuracy for sub-centimeter nodules was significantly higher for ZTE (reader 1: AUC, 0.972; p=0.044; reader 2: AUC, 0.946; p=0.045) than that for UTE (reader 1: AUC, 0.885; reader 2: AUC, 0.855). Mean scan time was 131s (125-141s) in ZTE and 467s (453-508s) in UTE. ZTE images were obtained with less acoustic noise.ConclusionImplementing ZTE as an additional sequence in routine lung MR is feasible. ZTE can provide high-resolution pulmonary structural information with better SNR and CNR using shorter time than UTE.Key Points center dot Both UTE and ZTE techniques use very short TEs to capture signals from very short T2/T2* tissues.center dot ZTE is superior in capturing lung parenchymal signal than UTE.center dot ZTE provides high-resolution structural information with better SNR and CNR for normal intrapulmonary structures and small nodules using shorter scan time than UTE.