

























Covered by SCI-Expanded
|
|
[ Summary ]
[ PDF ]
[ Mail to Author ]
[ Mail to Editor ]
|
| Fast MRI evaluation of pulmonary progressive massive fibrosis with VIBE and HASTE sequences: comparison with CT |
| Koray Hekimoğlu1, Tanzer Sancak2, Meltem Tor3, Halit Beşir4, Bora Kalaycıoğlu4, Sadi Gündoğdu2 |
1From the Department of Radiology Başkent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 2Department of Radiology Ufuk University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 3Departments of Pulmonary Diseases Karaelmas University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey 4Departments of Radiology Karaelmas University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey |
| Keywords: • pulmonary fibrosis • magnetic resonance imaging • computed tomography • comparative study |
| DOI: 10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.2313-08.2 |
| Summary |
PURPOSE
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic
utility of volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination
(VIBE) and half-Fourier-acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo
(HASTE) fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences
in the evaluation of pulmonary progressive massive fibrosis
(PMF) in comparison with computed tomography (CT) imaging.
If fast MRI is proven to be diagnostically significant, this
modality can be used for diagnosis and follow-up studies of
PMF patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-two PMF lesions from 20 coal workers were evaluated.
After CT imaging, patients underwent pre-contrast VIBE,
contrast-enhanced VIBE, and HASTE MRI studies for detection
and evaluation of the PMF lesions. Measurements of the three
groups were evaluated with intra-class coefficients. Correlation
levels between sizes, image quality, and artifact were
evaluated with linear Pearson correlation analysis.
RESULTS
There was almost perfect agreement among radiologists for
lesion detection with kappa analysis. There was significant
agreement between three MRI study groups and gold standard
CT images. We found the best agreement values with contrast-
enhanced VIBE images for lesion detection and image
quality in comparison with CT imaging. Presence of artifact
was also lowest with this protocol.
CONCLUSION
With fast MRI sequences in pulmonary imaging, image quality
has significantly improved being very close to that of CT studies.
In this study, contrast-enhanced VIBE protocol provided
the best depiction of PMF lesions. This protocol may be an
alternative choice for CT, avoiding the use of iodinated contrast
material and minimizing exposure to ionizing radiation
for follow-up studies. |
Top
Summary
Introduction
Methods
Results
Disscussion
References
|
| Introduction |
Progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) of the lung is a type of late stage
pneumoconiosis and pathologically consists of fibrotic lesions
more than 1 cm in greatest diameter[ 1]. The chest radiographic
and computed tomography (CT) findings of PMF have been reported[ 2, 3]. In our geographic region, PMF is mostly seen as a complication
of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Evaluation and follow-up of
PMF lesions are generally performed by using CT scans in CWP patients.
However, imaging has to provide detailed information about the anatomical
extension of the PMF. Since CT imaging requires ionizing radiation
and application of CT contrast agents is limited in patients with allergies
to ionized contrast media or in patients with renal insufficiency,
alternative imaging methods for diagnosis and follow-up are always of
interest. If the fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of PMF lesions of
the lungs is proven to be diagnostically significant, this modality can be
used instead of CT imaging. The rapid development of MRI techniques
during the last years has resulted in excellent soft tissue imaging capabilities.
MRI of the lung is difficult and hampered by three factors: first
(and very important) is signal loss due to physiological motion (respiration
and cardiac pulsation); second is low proton density in lung results
in a low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR); and third is the unique combination
of air and soft tissue resulting in significant susceptibility to artifact. Despite
these difficulties, fast MRI techniques for evaluating lung pathology
have been developed and addressed in a number of articles describing
preliminary results[ 4– 6]. However, correct evaluation of PMF lesions by
fast MRI techniques has not yet been well described. Volumetric interpolated
breath-hold examination (VIBE) and half-Fourier single-shot turbo
spin echo (HASTE) MR sequences are very fast imaging techniques, and
these techniques can also be used for fast pulmonary imaging.
In the present study, we hypothesized that fast pulmonary MRI of the
PMF lesions by using VIBE and HASTE fast MRI protocols would enable
detection of lesions and might have a role in the management of PMF,
especially in long-term follow-up. Thus, the purpose of our study was
to determine the feasibility of fast MRI in the management of PMF in
comparison with CT imaging. |
Top
Introduction
Methods
Results
Disscussion
References
|
| Materials and Methods |
Study design
Twenty-three patients were enrolled in this prospective study between
January 2007 and July 2008. Three patients were unable to undergo
MRI because of claustrophobia and had to be excluded from the
study. Thus, data sets of 20 patients were analyzed for this study. All
patients were male, with an age range of 52–82 years (mean, 72 years).
The patients had worked as coal miners for 15–25 years (mean, 15
years) working underground. They had pulmonary mass lesions ranging from 25 mm to 50 mm in diameter
(mean, 35 ± 3 mm) on CT images.
Transthoracic biopsy was applied to
all lesions by interventional radiology
department, and PMF diagnosis
was histopathologically confirmed.
Follow-up of the PMF lesions in these
patients were performed with CT. We
selected lesions that showed no significant
change on CT for at least 2 years
in order to exclude the possibility of a
coexistent lung cancer.
One week after CT study, all patients
underwent a pre-contrast VIBE,
HASTE, and contrast-enhanced VIBE
MRI for the evaluation of the PMF lesions.
Both MRI and CT examinations
were well tolerated with no adverse
reactions. None of the data sets were
excluded for serious respiratory or motion
artifact, and no examination had
to be repeated because of poor image
quality. The mean in-room time was
10 ± 5 min for MRI examination and 8
± 2 min for CT examination.
Images were divided into four groups
for each patient (Group I, CT images;
Group II, pre-contrast VIBE images;
Group III, contrast-enhanced VIBE images;
and Group IV, HASTE images).
Upon completion of imaging in every
patient, all imaging groups were interpreted
by five experienced radiologists.
Measurement of lesions on each imaging
sequence was performed for further
statistical analysis.
This study was approved by the institutional
ethics committee of Karaelmas
University School of Medicine.
Informed consent was obtained from
all patients.
Imaging techniques
CT scans were performed on spiral
CT (Philips Secura 2000, Philips Medical
Systems, Best, The Netherlands) using
the following parameters: 120 kV;
150 mA; pitch factor, 1,5; slice width,
7 mm; effective slice thickness and reconstruction,
5 mm; in-plane matrix
size, 512 × 512. A contrast agent (100
mL iopromide [300 mgI/mL, Ultravist,
Schering AG, Berlin, Germany]) was
used with CT injector system (Medrad
Vistron CT injection system, Medrad
Inc., Warrendale, Pennsylvania, USA)
via vena brachialis with 3 mL/s flow
rate. After a delay of 30 s, the image
set covering the entire lung was collected
over 12–15 s. This protocol is
our standard for routinely performed
thoracic CT.
MRI was performed with two 1.5 T
MRI scanners (Intera Master Gyroscan,
Philips Medical Systems, Best, The
Netherlands; and Magnetom Symphony,
Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen,
Germany) with a maximum gradient
strength of 30 mT/m and a slew
rate of 150 mT/m per ms. A standard
phased-array body coil was used for
signal reception. ECG triggering with
an active fiberoptic ECG system was
used for reduction of cardiac motion
artifact in HASTE sequence imaging.
Seventeen patients were scanned with
the Philips scanner, and the remaining
three with the Siemens scanner.
Fast T1-weighted MRI sequences
T1-weighted VIBE sequence was
chosen for fast T1-weighted MRI. VIBE
sequence parameters were adapted to
Philips scanner for the ultrafast 3D
gradient echo (T1-TFE) sequence. Imaging
parameters for VIBE sequence
were as follows: TR/TE, 5.12/2.51 ms;
flip angle, 10°; partition thickness, 5
mm without interslice gaps; matrix
size, 256 × 116 with three-dimesional
(3D) breath-hold imaging technique.
The 3D VIBE sequence is a 3D-gradient
echo (GRE) sequence (volumetric
interpolated breath-hold examinations)
and has been presented as a fast
MR sequence for liver and pulmonary
imaging. It is similar to the 3D radiofrequency-
spoiled GRE sequence used
to perform 3D MR angiography. However,
this sequence differs from MR
angiography sequences by symmetrical
k-space acquisition in the phase
encoding and the partition encoding
directions (ky and kz, respectively),
which decreases truncation artifact and
improves image quality. On the other
side, ultrafast spoiled gradient echo
(T1-TFE) sequence was used on Intera-
Philips scanner for fast T1-weighted
MRI with these parameters: TR/TE,
4.67/1.67 ms; flip angle, 20°; matrix
size, 256 × 192. Fat saturation techniques
were not employed. The field
of view (FOV) ranged from 375 mm to
450 mm for the acquisition of coronal
and axial MRI images for the two
MRI scanners. Breath-hold protocol
was applied for better image contrast.
Acquisition time was 20 s. Pre- and
post-contrast images were obtained in
all patients. We used a power injector
(Medrad Vistron MR injection system,
Medrad Inc.) to inject 0.1 mmol/kg of
gadopentate dimeglubine (Magnevist, Schering AG) at a rate of 2 mL/s in all
patients. Contrast-enhanced MR images
were obtained 60–70 s after completion
of the intravenous injection.
Fast T2-weighted MRI sequences
T2-weighted HASTE was used for fast
T2-weighted MRI. The HASTE sequence
is described as a useful breath-hold fast
T2 imaging process in lung parenchyma.
In HASTE sequence, the data were
acquired during a train of 180° refocusing
pulses. The central portion of
k-space was acquired immediately after
the radiofrequency (RF) pulse, and image
reconstruction was performed with
a half-Fourier method by using k-space
symmetry. ECG triggered, breath-hold,
black blood (SPIR) prepared HASTE images
were obtained in the axial and
coronal orientation with the following
parameters: TR/TE, 2000 (2 R-R intervals)/
53 ms; flip angle, 160°; effective
slice thickness, 5 mm without interslice
gaps; matrix size, 256 × 256; NSA, 3;
phase-encoding direction, anteroposterior.
In HASTE scanning, 35 slices
covering the entire lung area were collected
in two interleaved concatenations
of 20 s for each set. No contrast
agent was given. For patients evaluated
with the Philips Intera scanner, this
sequence was adapted as being singleshot
turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence
with the following parameters: TR/TE,
2000/80 ms; effective slice thickness,
5 mm without interslice gaps; matrix
size, 256 × 192; turbo factor, 17 selected.
FOV range was 375–400 mm for
these sequences. The T2 TSE sequence
was combined with spectrally selective
attenuated inversion recovery (SPAIR)
for fat saturation.
Image analysis
The analysis of the imaging data was
performed in a four-step manner after
completion of data acquisition for all
patients. It was based on reviewing
hard and soft copies, which were available
on workstations for the two MRIs.
In step 1 of the analysis, the gold
standard reference images were defined
by two experienced radiologists in consensus
by reviewing and interpreting
the CT scans. They remained blinded
to the MRI findings of these patients.
All PMF lesions previously confirmed
by biopsy were counted for the study.
The number, location, and three dimensional
sizes of the detected lesions
(transverse, sagittal, and craniocaudal diameters) were recorded (Group I).
To avoid miscounting, the observers
marked each detected lesion on hardcopy
film.
In step 2 of the analysis, each MRI
group was analyzed independently by
two experienced radiologists who were
unaware of the results of the CT examinations.
Each radiologist recorded the
sizes, number, and location of PMF lesions
on each MR image.
In step 3, the corresponding CT and
MRI data sets were reviewed again simultaneously
for one-to-one comparison
of the size and location of the detected
lesions in all groups of images
for each patient. Three radiologists independently
evaluated the general image
quality (A) and presence of artifact
(B) of detected pulmonary lesions. In
the grading of image quality (A), radiologists
used a semiquantitative grading
system as follows: 1 = poor (images
which are non-diagnostic), 2 = fair
(not optimal quality but sufficient to
permit a diagnosis to be established),
3 = good (optimal image quality in
resolution, sharpness, and clarity), and
4 = excellent (best image quality). All
MRI images (Groups II–IV) were evaluated
with regard to artifact (B) caused
by breathing or cardiac pulsation separately.
Total artifact scores were also
calculated. In all patients, each lobe of
the lung and PMF lesions were scored
for the presence of artifact (score 0, no
artifact; score 1, minor artifact; score 2,
moderate artifact; score 3, severe artifact
with insufficient imaging quality
for diagnosis).
In step 4 of the image analysis, PMF
lesions were evaluated for signal and
post-contrast enhancement patterns
of the lesions by two radiologists in
consensus by reviewing the MRI images.
The pre-contrast signal intensity
(SI) was supposed to reflect the status
of massive fibrosis, and the signal pattern
including post-contrast enhancement
was supposed to reflect the secondary
change or vascular nature of
PMF. Quantitative analysis was not
performed in this study because the
region of interest (ROI) measurements
showed considerable variability of SI
within the same lesion in the pilot
study. In this analysis, the relative intensities
of PMF lesions were compared
with skeletal muscle on the same MRI
images and categorized as hypointense,
isointense, or hyperintense.
Contrast-enhanced VIBE images
(Group III) were classified into three
patterns: (a) no enhancement, (b) rim
enhancement, and (c) diffuse enhancement.
Contrast enhancement of the
PMF lesions was defined visually as
increase of SI after intravenous administration
of contrast media at the same
contrast window and level setting. On
the other side; the signal pattern of lesions
on pre-contrast VIBE and HASTE
images (Groups II, IV) were classified
into four types: (a) homogenous isointense
SI, (b) homogenously low SI, (c)
high SI only at the rim, and (d) high SI
areas and high SI rim.
Statistical analysis
All results were statistically described
using commercial software (SPSS 11,
SPSS Inc., Chicago, lllinois, USA; Excel
2003, Microsoft, Redmond, Washington,
USA). Type I error was accepted
as 0.05, All reported P values were
type-3 Wald significance levels and
were declared to indicate a statistical
significance if <0.05. Measurement of
the results in three groups (II, III, IV)
on three sizes were evaluated with intra-
class coefficient (ICC). Correlation
levels between these results and gold
standard CT results (Group I) were
evaluated with linear Pearson correlation
analysis. The significance of differences
between groups were determined
with randomized block design for artifacts.
In addition, group differences
in image quality and spatial resolution
were calculated using Friedman test.
Simple kappa coefficients were used
to assess interobserver agreement for
lesion detection (0.00–0.20 indicated
slight agreement; 0.21–0.40 fair agreement;
0.41–0.60 moderate agreement;
0.61–0.80 substantial agreement; and
0.81–1.00 almost perfect agreement). |
Top
Introduction
Methods
Results
Disscussion
References
|
| Results |
Diagnoses based on imaging findings
Twenty-two PMF lesions were identified
and evaluated in 20 patients with
CT and MRI. Based on the one-to-one
correlation between CT and MR images,
the findings in all imaging techniques
correlated well. All MRI images
were of acceptable diagnostic quality.
However, the image quality of lung parenchyma
and PMF lesions was better
detected with contrast-enhanced VIBE
images than pre-contrast VIBE and
HASTE images (Figs. 1– 3). MRI interpretations
did not show false-negative or false-positive findings. None of the
lesions detected on CT were missed on
MRI images.
 Click to Enlarge |
Figure 1: a–d. Axial plane CT (a), pre-contrast VIBE (b), contrast-enhanced VIBE (c), and HASTE MR (d) images of a 47-year-old coal worker
who presented with huge progressive massive fibrosis lesion on the right side (white arrows). |
 Click to Enlarge |
Figure 2: a–d. CT-guided biopsy (a), pre-contrast VIBE (b), contrast-enhanced VIBE (c), and HASTE MR (d) images of a 55-year-old coal worker
who had large progressive massive fibrosis lesion on the right lower lobe (white arrows). The lesion showed diffuse enhancement pattern on
contrast-enhanced image (c) with excellent image quality and minor artifact scores. |
 Click to Enlarge |
Figure 3: a–d. Axial plane CT (a), pre-contrast VIBE (b), and contrast-enhanced VIBE MR (c) images of a 52-year-old coal worker with a 20-year
underground working history who had progressive massive fibrosis lesions on each lung (white arrows). The lesion revealed rim enhancement
pattern on coronal post-contrast MR image (d, white arrows). |
Evaluation of measurements on imaging
findings
Linear correlation of the results
between Group I (gold standard CT
images) and the other groups (II-IV)
which were pre-contrast VIBE, postcontrast
VIBE, and HASTE sequence
images respectively, were evaluated
for three dimensions of the lesions.
Correlation (r) values for x dimension
between Group I and the other
groups (II–IV) were 0.972, 0.989, and
0.829, respectively. With respect to y
dimension, r values were 0.987, 0.996,
and 0.862, respectively. Finally, r values
for z dimension between Group I
and the other groups were calculated
as 0.997, 0.999, and 0.959, respectively.
For all correlations P values were
<0.01. Agreement values (ICC) for
each dimension between three study
groups and gold standard Group I are
shown in Table 1. We found significant
agreement between three study
groups (II–IV) and gold standard Group
I. Best agreement with gold standard
CT imaging values for r and ICC were
obtained with Group III (post-contrast
VIBE sequence studies).
 Click to Enlarge |
Table 1: Intra-class coefficients (ICC) between gold standard (Group I) and the other
groups for “x”, “y”, and “z” dimensions (single measures ICC) |
Interobserver agreement
There was almost perfect agreement
among radiologists regarding report
quality for both the CT lesion detection
group (kappa score, 0.85) and for
the MRI lesion detection group (kappa
score, 0.83).
Image quality
In all study groups, post-contrast
VIBE (Group III) images had the best
diagnostic quality. For Group III, average
quality score (± standard deviation,
SD) was 3.65 ± 0.49 with a median value
of 4 (excellent). Pre-contrast VIBE
(Group II) images had the second best
diagnostic quality; statistical values for
this group were 3.2 ± 0.41 with a median
value of 3 (good). HASTE (Group IV)
images did not have a high diagnostic
quality. Degradation was observed on
these images because of respiratory or
cardiac motion artifact and short scan
times. The average quality score for
Group IV was 2.25 ± 0.44, with a median
value of 2 (poor). All groups had
statistically significant differences with
each other (P < 0.01).
Artifacts
With regard to comprehensive scoring
of breathing and cardiac pulsation
artifacts, post-contrast VIBE scans provided
the lowest artifact scores compared
with the pre-contrast VIBE and
HASTE sequences in all parts of the
lung. The average total artifact score
ranged from 0.1 to 1 for pre-contrast
VIBE (Group II) images, from 0.1 to 1
for post-contrast VIBE (Group III) images,
and from 0.8 to 1.8 for HASTE
(Group IV) images.
In all MRI sequences, respiratory
artifact was more prominent than
cardiac or vessel pulsation artifact.
This may be related to our breathhold
choice while determining MRI
sequences. Pulsation and cardiac artifact
ranged from 0 to 0.8 for pre-contrast
VIBE (Group II), from 0 to 0.8
for post-contrast VIBE (Group III) images,
and from 0.8 to 1.8 for HASTE
(Group IV) images. Respiratory artifact
ranged from 0.1 to 1.2 in Group
II for pre-contrast VIBE images from
0.1 to 0.8 in Group III for post-contrast
VIBE sequence, and from 0.8 to 1.8 for Group IV (HASTE) images. We
did not find significant differences in
artifact between Group II and III images.
However, we found a significant
difference between group IV and other
groups (II–III) (P < 0.05). Average
artifact scores in different pulmonary
locations are shown in Table 2.
 Click to Enlarge |
Table 2: Average artifact score as found in the study groups in different pulmonary localizations |
Signal intensity
On pre-contrast VIBE images
(Group II), homogenous isointense
SI compared with skeletal muscle (n
= 16, 72%) was the most frequent SI,
followed by homogenous low SI (n =
2, 9%), and high SI rim only (n = 2,
9%). The PMF lesions did not show both high SI areas and high SI rim in
this group. On HASTE images (Group
IV), the PMF lesions showed mostly
homogenous low SI (n = 20, 91%),
and the other lesions showed isointense
SI (n = 2, 9%). PMF lesions
did not show high SI rim at the rim
only or in the lesion and at the rim in Group IV. In evaluation enhancement
patterns, Group III showed
rim enhancement in 10 PMF lesions
(45%) and diffuse enhancement in
the other 12 lesions (55%). There
were no non-enhancing PMF lesions
in this group (Table 3).
 Click to Enlarge |
Table 3: Qualitative analysis of images for signal and enhancement patterns (number/total
number of lesions and percentage) |
|
Top
Introduction
Methods
Results
Disscussion
References
|
| Discussion |
In this study, we combined two fast
MRI sequences for evaluating PMF
lesions. T1-weighted VIBE sequence
was performed pre- and post-contrast
enhancement. The gold standard
modality for evaluating pulmonary
lesions is spiral or multidetector CT, although several studies have presented
MRI assessment of pulmonary
lesions as a similarly efficient modality[ 5– 9].
PMF is defined as a lesion of fibrosis
and pigment deposition larger than 1 cm in diameter and is sometimes designated
as “complicated” pneumoconiosis.
These lesions commonly occur
in coal workers who have had exposure
to large amounts of heavy dust. Radiologically,
PMF starts near the periphery of the lung and may closely resemble
pulmonary carcinoma[2,6,10].
According to the results of this study,
results of fast MRI in PMF patients may
be identical to results of CT, which is
accepted as gold standard in pulmonary
pathologies. Compared with the
pre-contrast VIBE and HASTE images,
the contrast-enhanced VIBE images
provided superior visualization of PMF
lesions in pulmonary parenchyma.
These results show that post-contrast
VIBE sequence imaging has the best
agreement with gold standard CT imaging.
VIBE sequence is a 3D gradient-echo
MRI technique tailored toward minimizing
acquisition time and partial
volume effects and maximizing image
contrast, permitting imaging of tissue,
with the first studies focusing on
the liver[11]. VIBE sequence has been
proven to provide high spatial resolution,
good visualization of lung anatomy,
and low rates of artifact in healthy
volunteers. These image qualities have
been confirmed in recent studies using
3D-GRE sequences in a wide spectrum of malignant and benign pulmonary
diseases[4,12]. This technique involves
two independent directions—
perpendicular (phase-encoding) and
parallel (partition-encoding) to the
plane of excitation. Asymmetric sampling
performed in each of the phaseencoding
directions improves spatial
resolution. The main advantages of the
VIBE sequence are its ability to rapidly
acquire a volumetric data set during a
single breath-hold, which enables acquisition
of contiguous thin-slice images
with no interslice gap. Another
important point of this sequence is the
relative lack of phase artifact secondary
to cardiac motion. This is achieved by
the very short acquisition time for the
central 10% of k-space, because this
area of k-space contributes the most
to image contrast but is most susceptible
to phase artifact. The very short
TR of VIBE sequence (4.67 ms) allows
rapid imaging of lungs during one
breath hold time. However, a short TE
of only 1.67 ms minimizes susceptibility
effects due to short T2* relaxation
time of pulmonary parenchyma and
increases the SNR, resulting in successful
visualization of pulmonary parenchyma[13]. The reduction in image
artifact is another factor that improves
image quality in this technique.
In this sequence, fat saturation techniques
were not employed; it could
have increased TR, which would have
increased acquisition time and imaging
artifact. Fat suppression was thought
to improve visualization of the mediastinum,
chest wall, and axilla for this
sequence and was critical for the detection
of the PMF lesions, which were
seen as a focus of high signal intensity
on the darkened background of suppressed
fat.
HASTE sequence is a half-Fourier
single-shot of TSE fast imaging MRI
technique. This sequence has been reported
to be a useful breath-hold T2-
weighted sequence for imaging of the
lung parenchyma[14]. Because of its
rapid data acquisition, HASTE imaging
is relatively insensitive to motion
artifact and may be particularly valuable
in patients who are unable to hold
their breath for a long acquisition period.
HASTE images are characterized by
high signal intensity in water-rich tissues.
Thus, pulmonary lesions and vessels
appear bright, whereas surrounding
air-filled parenchyma display low
signal intensity[15,16]. Distinct blurring artifact was seen on virtually all
HASTE images, and the VIBE sequence
had scores indicating a “minor” level,
but the differences in artifact level were
not significant. However, this limitation
of image quality of HASTE images
entailed lower sensitivities in lesion
detection compared to VIBE sequence.
Small PMF lesions could hardly be differentiated
from vessels because of
blurring[16].
Similar to CT, VIBE and HASTE
techniques allow continuous data acquisition
during a single breath-hold.
In this study, the smallest lesion was
25 mm in diameter. No lesions in the
three study groups were missed; thus,
sensitivity for lesion detection was
100% in all groups. VIBE sequence, especially
post-contrast studies, revealed
values close to those of CT images[17].
Evaluation of lesion size with HASTE
sequence, however, did not show high
accuracy compared to gold standard
CT images. Although CT has been regarded
as a standard reference technique
for detection of pulmonary nodules,
it is associated with a relatively
high level of ionizing radiation—from
10 to 100 times as much as chest radiography[18]. Fast MRI techniques may
be particularly useful in patients who
would otherwise be exposed to a substantial
cumulative dose of radiation
from undergoing repeated chest CT,
such as our study patients in whom
periodic chest CT follow-ups for PMF
lesions had been requested for the purposes
of ruling out lung cancer and/or
of occupational compensation.
There were several limitations in
this study. First, our study population
was small. However, our intent was to
show the feasibility of using the VIBE
and HASTE sequences for fast pulmonary
MRI. So the results were statistically
significant for our hypothesis.
Second, in post-contrast imaging we
used single delay time and we did not
choose dynamic MRI study because
quantitative analysis of ROI measurements
showed considerable variability
within the same lesion. Thus, we did
not use prolonged dynamic study of
PMF lesions for SI evaluation.
In conclusion, using fast MRI sequences
such as VIBE and HASTE have
potential clinical utility for the MRI
evaluation of PMF lesions in pneumoconiosis.
Of these techniques, postcontrast
VIBE modality significantly
reduces artifact and better depicts the PMF lesions than pre-contrast VIBE
and HASTE modalities. Although CT is
a much more widely available modality,
fast pulmonary MRI could be an alternative
modality, particularly if minimizing
exposure to ionizing radiation
or avoiding the use of iodinated contrast
material is of concern. Additional
studies are warranted to establish the
clinical value of fast pulmonary MRI in
patients with various pulmonary diseases. |
Top
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
|
| References |
1) Gibbs AR. Occupational lung disease. In:
Halsleton PS, ed. Spencer's pathology of
the lung. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill,
1996; 461–504.
2) Williams JL, Moller GA. Solitary mass in
the lungs of coal miners. Am J Roentgenol
Radium Ther Nucl Med 1973; 117:765–
770.
3) Soutar CA, Collins HP. Classification of
progressive massive fibrosis of coalminers
by type of radiographic appearance. Br J
Indust Med 1984; 41:334–339.
4) Biederer J, Both M, Graessner J, et al. Lung
morphology: fast MR imaging assessment
with a volumetric interpolated breath-hold
technique: initial experience with patients.
Radiology 2003; 226:242–249.
5) Both M, Schultze J, Reuter M, et al. Fast T1-
and T2-weighted pulmonary MR-imaging
in patients with bronchial carcinoma. Eur
J Radiol 2005; 53:478–488.
6) Jung JI, Park SH, Lee JM, Hahn ST, Kim KA.
MR characteristics of progressive massive
fibrosis. J Thorac Imaging 2000; 15:144–150.
7) Matsumoto S, Mori H, Miyake H, et al. MRI
signal characteristics of progressive massive
fibrosis in slicosis. Clin Radiol 1998;
53:510–514.
8) Kauczor HU, Kreitner KF. MRI of the pulmonary
parenchyma. Eur Radiol 1999;
9:1755–1764.
9) Bruegel M, Gaa J, Woertler K, Waldt S,
Hillerer C, Rummeny EJ. MRI of the lung:
value of different turbo spin-echo, singleshot
turbo spin-echo, and 3D gradientecho
pulse sequences for the detection
of pulmonary metastases. J Magn Reson
Imaging 2007; 25:73–81.
10) Matsumoto S, Miyake H, Oga M, Takaki
H, Mori H. Diagnosis of lung cancer in a
patient with pneumoconiosis and progressive
massive fibrosis using MRI. Eur Radiol
1998; 8:615–617.
11) Rofsky NM, Lee VS, Laub G, et al.
Abdominal MR imaging with a volumetric
interpolated breath-hold examination.
Radiology 1999; 212:876–884.
12) Bader TR, Semelka RC, Pedro MS, Armao
DM, Brown MA, Molina PL. Magnetic resonance
imaging of pulmonary parenchymal
disease using a modified breath-hold 3D
gradient-echo technique: initial observations.
J Magn Reson Imaging 2002; 15:31–38.
13) Biederer J, Reuter M, Both M, et al. Analysis
of artifacts and detail resolution of lung
MRI with breath-hold T1 weighted gradient-
echo and T2 weighted fast spin-echo
sequences with respiratory triggering. Eur
Radiol 2002; 12:378–384.
14) Hatabu H, Gaa J, Tadamura E, et al. MR
imaging of pulmonary parenchyma with
a half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo
(HASTE) sequence. Eur J Radiol 1999;
29:152–159.
15) Vogt FM, Herborn CU, Hunold P, et al.
HASTE MRI versus chest radiography in
the detection of pulmonary nodules: comparison
with MDCT. AJR Am J Roentgenol
2004; 183:71–78.
16) Schroeder T, Ruehm SG, Debatin JF, Ladd
ME, Barkhausen J, Goehde SC. Detection
of pulmonary nodules using a 2D HASTE
MR sequence: comparison with MDCT.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2005; 185:979–984.
17) Karabulut N, Martin DR, Yang M, Tallaksen
RJ. MR Imaging of the chest using a contrast-
enhanced breath-hold modified
three-dimensional gradient-echo technique:
comparison with two-dimensional
gradient-echo technique and multidetector
CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2002; 179:1225–
1233.
18) Diederich S, Wormanns D, Lenzen H,
Semik M, Thomas M, Peters PE. Screening
for asymptomatic early bronchogenic carcinoma
with low dose CT of the chest.
Cancer 2000; 89(11 Suppl):2483–2484. |
Top
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
|
|
[ Top ]
[ Summary ]
[ PDF ]
[ Mail to Author ]
[ Mail to Editor ]
|
|
|