Since its introduction, susceptibility-weighted-magnetic resonance imaging (SW-MRI) has shown the potential to overcome the insensitivity of MRI to calcification. Previous studies reporting the diagnostic performance of SW-MRI and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of calcifications are inconsistent and based on single-institution designs. To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis on SW-MRI, determining the potential of SW-MRI to detect calcifications. Two independent investigators searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science for eligible diagnostic accuracy studies, which were published until March 24, 2017 and investigated the accuracy of SW-MRI to detect calcifications, using computed tomography (CT) as a reference. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess study quality and methods for analysis were based on PRISMA. A bivariate diagnostic random-effects model was applied to obtain pooled sensitivities and specificities. Out of the 4629 studies retrieved by systematic literature search, 12 clinical studies with 962 patients and a total of 1,032 calcifications were included. Pooled sensitivity was 86.5% (95%-confidence interval (CI): 73.6–93.7%) for SW-MRI and 36.7% (95%–CI:29.2–44.8%) for standard MRI. Pooled specificities of SW-MRI (90.8%; 95%–CI:81.0–95.8%) and standard MRI (94.2; 95%–CI:88.9–96.7%) were comparable. Results of the present meta-analysis suggest, that SW-MRI is a reliable method for detecting calcifications in soft tissues.

To evaluate the use of susceptibility-weighted MRI for the differentiation of predominantly osteoblastic and osteolytic spine metastases. Materials and Methods: For this prospective study, 53 study participants (mean age, 54.5 years 6 14.3 [range, 22-88 years]; 27 men with a mean age of 55.3 years 6 12.7 [range, 22-72 years] and 26 women with a mean age of 53.8 years 6 15.7 [range, 23-88 years]) with clinically suspected spine metastases underwent imaging with standard MRI sequences, susceptibility-weighted MRI, and CT. Sensitivities and specificities of MRI sequences for the detection of predominantly osteoblastic and osteolytic metastases were determined by using CT as the reference standard. The metastases-to-vertebral body signal intensity ratio (MVR) was calculated to compare modalities. Phantom measurements were obtained to correlate bone densities between MRI sequences and CT. Results: A total of 64 metastases (38 predominantly osteoblastic, 26 predominantly osteolytic) were detected. Susceptibilityweighted MRI achieved a sensitivity of 100% (38 of 38) and specificity of 96% (25 of 26) for predominantly osteoblastic metastases and a sensitivity of 96% (25 of 26) and specificity of 100% (38 of 38) for predominantly osteolytic metastases. Standard MRI sequences achieved a sensitivity of 89% (34 of 38) and specificity of 73% (19 of 26) for predominantly osteoblastic metastases and a sensitivity of 73% (19 of 26) and specificity of 92% (35 of 38) for predominantly osteolytic metastases. MVR measurements obtained with susceptibility-weighted MRI demonstrated a strong correlation with those obtained with CT (R 2 = 0.75), whereas those obtained with T1-weighted MRI, T2-weighted MRI, and turbo inversion-recovery magnitude MRI showed a weak to moderate correlation (R 2 = 0.00, R 2 = 0.35, and R 2 = 0.39, respectively). Susceptibility-weighted MRI showed a strong correlation with CT with regard to metastases size (R 2 = 0.91). In phantom measurements, susceptibility-weighted MRI enabled the reliable differentiation of different degrees of mineralization (R 2 = 0.92 compared with CT). Conclusion: Susceptibility-weighted MRI enables the reliable differentiation between predominantly osteoblastic and osteolytic spine metastases with a higher accuracy than standard MRI sequences.

• sMRI allows a reliable evaluation of vertebral body fractures. • sMRI has higher accuracy than standard-MRI for evaluation of vertebral body fractures. • sMRI is especially useful in patients with non-healed vertebral body fractures.

ObjectivesTo determine the diagnostic performance of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWMR) for the detection of pineal gland calcifications (PGC) compared to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, using computed tomography (CT) as a reference standard.Methods384 patients who received a 1.5 Tesla MRI scan including SWMR sequences and a CT scan of the brain between January 2014 and October 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. 346 patients were included in the analysis, of which 214 showed PGC on CT scans. To assess correlation between imaging modalities, the maximum calcification diameter was used. Sensitivity and specificity and intra- and interobserver reliability were calculated for SWMR and conventional MRI sequences.ResultsSWMR reached a sensitivity of 95% (95% CI: 91%-97%) and a specificity of 96% (95% CI: 91%-99%) for the detection of PGC, whereas conventional MRI achieved a sensitivity of 43% (95% CI: 36%-50%) and a specificity of 96% (95% CI: 91%-99%). Detection rates for calcifications in SWMR and conventional MRI differed significantly (95% versus 43%, p<0.001). Diameter measurements between SWMR and CT showed a close correlation (R2 = 0.85, p<0.001) with a slight but not significant overestimation of size (SWMR: 6.5 mm ± 2.5; CT: 5.9 mm ± 2.4, p = 0.02). Interobserver-agreement for diameter measurements was excellent on SWMR (ICC = 0.984, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsCombining SWMR magnitude and phase information enables the accurate detection of PGC and offers a better diagnostic performance than conventional MRI with CT as a reference standard.

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