Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to compare ultrafast sensitivity encoding (SENSE) T2-weighted (T2W), turbo spin echo (TSE) T2-W and T1-weighted (T1W) sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of liver masses.Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients with a known or newly detected liver mass were included in the study. All patients underwent respiratory-triggered T2-W SENSE, fat suppressed (SPIR) T2-W SENSE, breath-hold TSE T2-weighted and breath-hold dynamic contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional (3D) T1-FFE sequences. The detected masses were evaluated for size, margins and signal characteristics, and accordingly the groups were formed. Lesions on T2-W sequences divided into distinct groups as soft and sharp contours according to their edges, and light, medium and hyperintense according to the characteristics of the signal. The number of lesions on T2-W sequences was compared with that on T1-weighted sequences. In addition, the number and size of lesions among T2-weighted sequences were compared.Results: The maximum number of lesions was found in SENSE T2-W fat suppressed (SPIR SENSE) sequences. However, in terms of lesion detection sensitivity, no statistically significant difference was found between T2- and T1-W sequences. No significant statistical difference was found in terms of the size of lesions in SENSE T2-weighted SPIR, SENSE TSE T2-W and T2-W sequences. There was no statistical difference in the comparison among T2-W sequences, according to contour and signal characteristics.Conclusion: Ultrafast SENSE T2-W sequences, especially when used in conjunction with fat suppression, are as sensitive as T2-W TSE sequences in detecting liver lesions. The lesion detection sensitivity of contrast-enhanced T1-W images decreases, especially in lesions under 5 mm in size. Contrast-enhanced T1-W images are important in the characterization of the lesions. Ultrafast SENSE T2-W sequences are reliable sequences, which can be used instead of T2-W TSE sequences in liver imaging.

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