T. Masui et al., T2-weighted MRI of the female pelvis: Comparison of breath-hold fast-recovery fast spin-echo and nonbreath-hold fast spin-echo sequences, J MAGN R I, 13(6), 2001, pp. 930-937
In 49 patients who had pelvic abnormalities, breath-hold T2-weighted fast-r
ecovery (FR)-fast spin-echo (FSE) (imaging time = 24 sec) and nonbreath-hol
d FSE MR images (2 min 8 sec) were compared qualitatively (on a four-point
scale) and quantitatively (using signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast
ratios (\ SIs of the lesions-SIs of the myometrium \ /SIs of the myometriu
m)). Motion artifacts were reduced on breath-hold FR-FSE (3.8:3.2 = breath-
hold FSE:nonbreath-hold FSE, P < 0.01) and image quality was comparable (3.
8:3.7, NS). In all patients, pathology (leiomyoma [N = 26], adenomyosis [N
= 10], endometrial carcinoma [N = 8], and ovarian cystic lesions [N = 21])
was recognized with comparable lesion conspicuity (3.8:3.7, NS) and better
delineation of the structures (3.9:3.6, P < 0.05) on the FR-FSE images. The
re was no significant difference in contrast ratios, although SNRs (e.g., m
yometrium 18.3:25.8, P < 0.01) were better and the uterine zonal anatomy wa
s recognized better on the nonbreath-hold FSE (3.4:3.7, P < 0.05). These di
fferences did not affect the diagnosis. Breath-hold FR-FSE provides the ben
efits of motionless Imaging and a short examination time, although lower SN
Rs were noted. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:930-937. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss
, Inc.