Clinical usability of 3D gradient-echo-based ultrashort echo time imaging: Is it enough to facilitate diagnostic decision in real-world practice?

• Published in: PloS one 2024-05, Vol.19 (5), p.e0296696-e0296696
• Main Authors: Bak, So Hyeon, Park, Jinil, Lee, Seokwon, Kim, Jong Hee, Lee, Ho Yun, Park, Jang-Yeon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Adult; Aged; Biology and Life Sciences; Breath Holding; Bronchi; Bronchiectasis; Bronchus; Computed tomography; Contrast agents; CT imaging; Data acquisition; Diagnostic imaging; Diagnostic systems; Emphysema; Female; Fourier transforms; Humans; Image acquisition; Image contrast; Image quality; Image reconstruction; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Lesions; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - pathology; Lung cancer; Lung diseases; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung nodules; Lungs; Lymphadenopathy; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical imaging; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine, Experimental; Methods; Middle Aged; Nodules; Parenchyma; Pulmonary arteries; Radiation; Research and Analysis Methods; Retrospective Studies; Signal to noise ratio; Thorax; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296696

With recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, the practical role of lung MRI is expanding despite the inherent challenges of the thorax. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the current status of the concurrent dephasing and excitation (CODE) ultrashort echo-time sequence and the T1-weighted volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequence in the evaluation of thoracic disease by comparing it with the gold standard computed tomography (CT). Twenty-four patients with lung cancer and mediastinal masses underwent both CT and MRI including T1-weighted VIBE and CODE. For CODE images, data were acquired in free breathing and end-expiratory images were reconstructed using retrospective respiratory gating. All images were evaluated through qualitative and quantitative approaches regarding various anatomical structures and lesions (nodule, mediastinal mass, emphysema, reticulation, honeycombing, bronchiectasis, pleural plaque and lymphadenopathy) inside the thorax in terms of diagnostic performance in making specific decisions. Depiction of the lung parenchyma, mediastinal and pleural lesion was not significant different among the three modalities (p > 0.05). Intra-tumoral and peritumoral features of lung nodules were not significant different in the CT, VIBE or CODE images (p > 0.05). However, VIBE and CODE had significantly lower image quality and poorer depiction of airway, great vessels, and emphysema compared to CT (p < 0.05). Image quality of central airways and depiction of bronchi were significantly better in CODE than in VIBE (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005). In contrast, the depiction of the vasculature was better for VIBE than CODE images (p = 0.003). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were significant greater in VIBE than CODE except for SNRlung and SNRnodule (p < 0.05). Our study showed the potential of CODE and VIBE sequences in the evaluation of localized thoracic abnormalities including solid pulmonary nodules.