In-phase and out-of-phase single-shot magnetization-prepared gradient recalled echo: description and optimization of technique at 1.5T

Purpose: To implement in-phase and out-of-phase (IP/OP) techniques with MagnetizationPrepared Gradient Recalled Echo (MP-GRE) and to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic image quality among pre and post-optimized MP-GRE sequences, including patients unable to cooperate with breath-hold requirements. Materials and methods: Institutional review board approval with waiver of informed consent was obtained for this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. Two groups of patients were included in the study, before and after optimization of MP-GRE parameters, with seventy-three (24 noncooperative/ 49 cooperative) and sixty-four (22 noncooperative/42 cooperative) consecutive patients, respectively. The motion-insensitive sequence used in this study was a single-shot 2D MP-GRE. Two radiologists qualitatively evaluated the sequences to identify the presence of phase cancellation artifact in OP images and to determine image quality, extent of artifacts (respiratory ghosting, bounce-point artifact, spatial misregistration and pixel graininess) and lesion conspicuity on the various sequences. The ability to visually detect liver steatosis and fatty adrenal adenomas was evaluated. Qualitative analyses were compared using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: There were statistically significant differences between all MP-GRE sequences concerning phase cancellation artifact (P<.0001) which was present in MP-GRE OP sequences and negligible to absent in the pre (IP1) and post-optimized (IP2) MP-GRE IP sequences, respectively, in all patients. Bounce point artifacts were significantly more pronounced in MP-GRE IP1 (P<.0001). Spatial misregistration was slightly more prominent in noncooperative patients with MP-GRE IP2 (P=. 0027). MP-GRE OP and MP-GRE IP2 showed significantly higher overall image quality (P<.0001). MP-GRE sequences subjectively identified hepatic steatosis (n= 20) and adrenal adenomas (n= 5) based on signal loss from IP to OP sequence. Conclusion: Single shot IP/OP MP-GRE is feasible and allows motion resistant imaging with adequate diagnostic image quality. This technique is able to provide IP and OP information in patients unable to suspend respiration. (C) 2011 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.