Feasibility of single breath holding 3D-SPACE MR cholangiopancreatography: a preliminary study / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the technical advantages of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with single breath holding high parallel acquisition factor 3-D variable flip angle fast spin echo (3D-SPACE) sequence.Methods:From November 2018 to March 2019, 75 patients who underwent MRCP examination in our hospital were prospectively enrolled, with single breath holding high parallel acquisition factor 3D-SPACE sequence and free breathing navigation gated 3D-SPACE sequence. Three experienced radiologists scored the overall image quality, artifacts, CBD visibility, left and right hepatic ducts, right anterior and posterior branches, second and third branches, main pancreatic duct and gallbladder duct with four scales. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The scanning time of single breath holding method (18 s) was significantly shorter than that of free breathing diaphragm navigation method［264（226，313）s］, and the difference between the two methods was statistically significant ( Z=-7.520， P<0.001). The SNR, CR and CNR (8.31±4.23, 0.92±0.30, 11.46±5.77) of single breath holding method were lower than those of free breathing diaphragm navigation method (11.23±5.70, 0.93±0.38, 15.06±7.37), and the differences between the two methods were also statistically significant ( t=4.378, 3.429, 4.063, P<0.05). The overall image quality, artifact, the CBD, left and right hepatic duct, right anterior and posterior branchs, the second and third branches, main pancreatic duct and cystic duct of single breath holding method were higher than those of free breathing diaphragm navigation method, and the differences between the two methods were statistically significant ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the free breathing diaphragm navigation gated 3D-SPACE MRCP imaging method, the single breath holding high parallel acquisition factor 3D-SPACE MRCP imaging method has less artifacts and examination time, but higher visibility to pancreaticobiliary tree and work efficiency, which is worthy of further promotion.