Optimizing contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI: A comparative study of deep learning and standard VIBE techniques.
Authors
Affiliations (5)
Affiliations (5)
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Boston, MA, USA.
- Siemens Healthineers AG, Forchheim, Germany.
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract
To validate a deep learning (DL) reconstruction technique for faster post-contrast enhanced coronal Volume Interpolated Breath-hold Examination (VIBE) sequences and assess its image quality compared to conventionally acquired coronal VIBE sequences. This prospective study included 151 patients undergoing clinically indicated upper abdominal MRI acquired on 3 T scanners. Two coronal T1 fat-suppressed VIBE sequences were acquired: a DL-reconstructed sequence (VIBE<sub>DL</sub>) and a standard sequence (VIBE<sub>SD</sub>). Three radiologists independently evaluated six image quality parameters: overall image quality, perceived signal-to-noise ratio, severity of artifacts, liver edge sharpness, liver vessel sharpness, and lesion conspicuity, using a 4-point Likert scale. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using Gwet's AC2. Ordinal mixed-effects regression models were used to compare VIBE<sub>DL</sub> and VIBE<sub>SD</sub>. Acquisition times were 10.2 s for VIBE<sub>DL</sub> compared to 22.3 s for VIBE<sub>SD</sub>. VIBE<sub>DL</sub> demonstrated superior overall image quality (OR 1.95, 95 % CI: 1.44-2.65, p < 0.001), reduced image noise (OR 3.02, 95 % CI: 2.26-4.05, p < 0.001), enhanced liver edge sharpness (OR 3.68, 95 % CI: 2.63-5.15, p < 0.001), improved liver vessel sharpness (OR 4.43, 95 % CI: 3.13-6.27, p < 0.001), and better lesion conspicuity (OR 9.03, 95 % CI: 6.34-12.85, p < 0.001) compared to VIBE<sub>SD</sub>. However, VIBE<sub>DL</sub> showed increased severity of peripheral artifacts (OR 0.13, p < 0.001). VIBE<sub>DL</sub> detected 137/138 (99.3 %) focal liver lesions, while VIBE<sub>SD</sub> detected 131/138 (94.9 %). Inter-reader agreement ranged from good to very good for both sequences. The DL-reconstructed VIBE sequence significantly outperformed the standard breath-hold VIBE in image quality and lesion detection, while reducing acquisition time. This technique shows promise for enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI.