Rapid multiplanar abdominal survey using MRI with the steady‐state free‐precession technique

Abstract

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of steadystate free-precession (SSFP) survey MRI of the abdomen. Materials and Methods:A total of 375 consecutive outpatients underwent abdominal MRI at 1.5T. Excluding diffuse metastatic disease, 110 patients had at least one other clinically important finding. The SSFP survey included contiguous 5-mm-thick axial, sagittal, and coronal slices (total 90 slices) obtained during a total of 90 seconds of free breathing. Studies were reviewed by two experienced MRI readers independently, randomized, blinded, and at different sittings. The chi-squared test was used to compare SSFP to full MRI for showing clinically important findings. In a subset of 30 patients, confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the accuracy of SSFP and full MRI as predictors of biopsy result.Results: SSFP detected 87.3% of clinically important findings and 93.3% of malignancies reported on the full MRI, with a 1.5% false-positive rate. Significant association was shown between SSFP and full MRI for clinically important findings (P Ͻ 0.0001). Compared to biopsy, accuracy of SSFP was high (85% Ϯ 12.7%), though not as high as full MRI (93.3% Ϯ 8.8%).Conclusion: SSFP provides a rapid survey of the abdomen, with good sensitivity and few false positives.

Techniques for minimizing sedation in pediatric MRI

“…) . SSFP sequences can also be useful in a thick‐slab cinematic format to evaluate myocardial function in cardiac MR and bowel peristalsis in MR enterography …”

“…41 SSFP sequences can also be useful in a thick-slab cinematic format to evaluate myocardial function in cardiac MR and bowel peristalsis in MR enterography. 18,42 Gradient recalled echo (GRE) imaging is often used for acquiring fast images with T 1 contrast during quiet breathing. 43 2D GRE T 1 -weighted images using a low flip angle are an important part of pediatric abdominal MRI, by characterizing lesions and detecting hemorrhage or fat content.…”

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