ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether manual respiratory triggering of a T2-weighted single-shot fast spin-echo sequence (M-SSFSE) improves detection and characterization of liver lesions compared with conventional breath-held single-shot fast spin-echo (C-SSFSE) technique. METHODS: M-SSFSE is performed by manually triggering a series of single-slice acquisitions through the liver at end of expiration. There were 171 hepatic lesions in 49 patients. Images were randomized and reviewed by 3 radiologists. Lesions were characterized as hemangiomas, cystic or solid. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced sequences were used as the reference standard. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were calculated for all lesions that measured 1 cm or more. RESULTS: M-SSFSE was more sensitive than C-SSFSE in the detection of liver lesions (48%-58% v. 37%-46%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the specificity of lesion detection between the 2 sequences. Artifacts were significantly less severe for M-SSFSE compared with C-SSFSE (p = 0.001). The CNR was significantly higher for all liver lesions on M-SSFSE compared with C-SSFSE (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: M-SSFSE significantly improved hepatic lesion detection and, in particular, improved characterization of solid liver lesions and hemangiomas compared with C-SSFSE imaging.
