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Enhancement of abdominal structures on MRI at 1.5 and 3 T: a retrospective intraindividual crossover comparison

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

Abstract

Objective

To quantitatively compare the extent of enhancement of abdominal structures on MRI in an intraindividual fashion at 1.5 and 3 T.

Methods

HIPAA-compliant, retrospective, longitudinal, intraindividual, crossover study, with waived informed consent, of consecutive individuals scanned at both 1.5 and 3 T closed-bore magnets using gadobenate dimeglumine during different phases of enhancement at tightly controlled arterial phase timing. Quantitative ROI measurements and qualitative sub-phase arterial phase assignments were independently performed by two radiologists. Qualitative discrepancies were resolved by a senior radiologist.

Results

Final population included 60 patients [41 female and 19 male; age, 49.35 ± 18.31 years (range 16–81); weight, 78.88 ± 20.3 kg (range 44.5–136)]. Similar enhancement peak patterns were noted at both field strengths. Interobserver agreement of quantitative evaluations was substantial. Significantly higher amplitudes of enhancement peaks were noted for all abdominal solid organs during all phases at 3 T, except for the pancreas (p = 0.17–0.30). Significantly higher amplitudes of enhancement peaks of the abdominal aorta at 1.5 T were noted.

Conclusion

Similar peak patterns of enhancement for abdominal structures were observed at 1.5 and 3 T, with solid abdominal organs showing a higher percentage enhancement at 3 T, while unexpectedly higher aortic higher percentage enhancement was observed at 1.5 T.

Key Points

• Similar enhancement peak patterns at both field strengths for studied abdominal structures.

• Significantly higher percentage enhancement of most abdominal organs at 3 T.

• Non-statistically significant trend of higher pancreatic percentage enhancement at 3 T.

• Significantly lower abdominal aortic percentage enhancement at 3 T.

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Abbreviations

CARE:

Combined applications to reduce exposure

EHAP:

Early hepatic arterial phase

FLASH:

Fast low angle shot

GBCA:

Gadolinium-based contrast agent

GRAPPA:

Generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions

GRE:

Gradient recalled echo

HADP:

Hepatic arterial dominant phase

HIPAA:

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

LHAP:

Late hepatic arterial phase

MHAP:

Mid-hepatic arterial phase

ROI:

Region of interest

SVHADP:

Splenic-vein-only hepatic arterial dominant phase

T:

Tesla

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Acknowledgements

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Richard C. Semelka. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complicated statistical work was needed for this paper. One of the authors, with no conflict, performed the statistical work. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the institutional review board. Study type: retrospective, longitudinal, intraindividual, crossover study performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mamdoh AlObaidy

  2. Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7510-2001 Old Clinic Bldg., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7510, USA

    Mamdoh AlObaidy, Miguel Ramalho, Fernanda Velloni, António P. Matos, Kevin Herman & Richard C. Semelka

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  1. Mamdoh AlObaidy
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  2. Miguel Ramalho
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  3. Fernanda Velloni
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  4. António P. Matos
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  5. Kevin Herman
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  6. Richard C. Semelka
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Correspondence to Richard C. Semelka.

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AlObaidy, M., Ramalho, M., Velloni, F. et al. Enhancement of abdominal structures on MRI at 1.5 and 3 T: a retrospective intraindividual crossover comparison. Eur Radiol 27, 1596–1604 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4494-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4494-0

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