T2-WEIGHTED MR-IMAGING OF THE LIVER - OPTIMIZATION OF HYBRID-RARE SEQUENCES

The objectives of this study were to optimize T2-weighted hybrid-RARE pulse sequences for clinical MR imaging of the liver, and to compare t hem to the conventional spin-echo (CSE) sequence. Specifically, the ra nges of the echo train length (ETL) and the effective echo time (TEeff ) were investigated to optimize image quality and liver-spleen contras t, in healthy volunteers, A total of thirteen volunteers were scanned at 1.5 Tesla with an extensive array of hybrid-RARE scans, The images were analyzed quantitatively with respect to CNR (contrast-to-noise ra tio of spleen vs, liver), SNR (signal to noise ratio of the spleen), S IR (signal intensity ratio of liver and spleen) and CDR (contrast diff erence ratio between the spleen and liver), The images were also analy zed qualitatively with respect to image sharpness, vascular artifacts, ghosting, chemical shift, and truncations, Results of quantitative an alysis indicated that CDR and SIR of hybrid-RARE at higher ETL (> 13) were consistently better than both the reference CSE and the lower ETL sequences (p < 0.05) at all TEeff. SNR was slightly inferior for all hybrid-RARE sequences than for the CSE sequence, Image quality for hyb rid-RARE sequences with ETL > 13 proved to be consistently better than that for the CSE (TE = 90 ms) with respect to imaging sharpness, vasc ular artifacts and ghosting artifacts (p < 0.05), In conclusion, the o ptimized hybrid-RARE sequences with ETL greater than or equal to 13 ar e capable of producing sharp and relatively artifact free images with the advantage of a much greater acquisition time efficiency. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.