LITERATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Abstract

Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation of a Deep Learning-Accelerated, Single-Breath-Hold Abdominal HASTE at 1.5 T and 3 T

Judith Herrmann MD, Daniel Wessling MD, Dominik Nickel PhD, Simon Arberet PhD, Haidara Almansour MD, Carmen Afat MD, Saif Afat MD, Sebastian Gassenmaier MD and Ahmed E. Othman MD

Academic Radiology, 2023-01-01, Volume 30, Issue 1, Pages 93-102, Copyright © 2022 The Association of University Radiologists

To evaluate the clinical performance of a deep learning-accelerated single-breath-hold half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE DL )-sequence for T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI of the abdomen at 1.5 T and 3 T in comparison to standard T2-weighted fat-suppressed multi-shot turbo spin echo-sequence. A total of 320 patients who underwent a clinically indicated liver MRI at 1.5 T and 3 T between August 2020 and February 2021 were enrolled in this single-center, retrospective study. HASTE DL and standard sequences were assessed regarding overall and organ-based image quality, noise, contrast, sharpness, artifacts, diagnostic confidence, as well as lesion detectability using a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 4 (4 = best). The number of visible lesions of each organ was counted and the largest diameter of the major lesion was measured. HASTE DL showed excellent image quality (median 4, interquartile range 3-4), although BLADE (median 4, interquartile range 4-4) was rated significantly higher for overall and organ-based image quality of the adrenal gland ( P < .001), contrast ( P < 0.001), sharpness ( P < 0.001), artifacts ( P < 0.001), as well as diagnostic confidence ( P < .001). No significant differences were found concerning noise ( P = 0.886), organ-based image quality of the liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys ( P = 0.120-0.366), number and measured diameter of the detected lesions (ICC = 0.972-1.0). Reduction of the aquisition time (TA) was at least 89% for 1.5 T images and 86% for 3 T