Evaluation of a 10-minute comprehensive MR imaging examination of the upper abdomen

PURPOSE: To determine whether a 10-minute magnetic resonance (MR) imaging e xamination of the upper abdomen provides sufficiently comprehensive informa tion to replace a longer MR protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Images obtained with selected breathing-independent and breath-hold MR sequences, with 2 minutes of total acquisition time and an estimated 10 minutes of total study time, in consecutive MR examinations of the upper abdomen in 72 patients (age range, 23-87 years) were retrospe ctively reviewed in a blinded fashion by two separate interpreters. Determi nation was made of major and minor findings, and the two separate retrospec tive interpretations and the prospective clinical interpretation were corre lated by using kappa statistics. Surgical and clinical findings were also c orrelated with imaging findings. RESULTS: In 61 patients, all major and minor findings were identical in the original clinical interpretation and the two retrospective readings. In 66 patients, the major findings were identical in these three readings. Close agreement was present between the two separate retrospective readings and the prospective clinical interpretation (kappa = 0.49-1.00). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the diagnostic information provided b y a shortened MR imaging protocol that includes breath-hold and breathing-i ndependent sequences is in close agreement with lengthier MR protocols. The advantages of a shortened protocol include increased patient throughput an d decreased study cost.