Intraindividual Comparison of Compressed Sensing-Accelerated Cartesian and Radial Arterial Phase Imaging of the Liver in an Experimental Tumor Model

Objectives The aim of this study was to intraindividually compare the performance of 2 compressed sensing (CS)-accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, 1 featuring Cartesian (compressed sensing volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination [CS-VIBE]) and the other radial (golden-angle radial sparse parallel [GRASP]) k-space sampling in continuous dynamic imaging during hepatic vascular phases, using extracellular and hepatocyte-specific contrast agents. Materials and Methods Seven New Zealand white rabbits, with induced VX2 liver tumors (median number of lesions, 2 +/- 0.83; range, 1-3), received 2 continuously acquired T1-weighted prototype CS-accelerated MRI sequences (CS-VIBE and GRASP) with high spatial (0.8 x 0.8 x 1.5 mm) and temporal resolution (3.5 seconds) in randomized order on 2 separate days using a 1.5-T scanner. In all animals, imaging was performed using first gadobutrol at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg and, then 45 minutes later, gadoxetic acid at a dose of 0.025 mmol/kg. The following qualitative parameters were assessed using 3- and 5-point Likert scales (3 and 5 being the highest scores respectively): image quality (IQ), arterial and venous vessel delineation, tumor enhancement, motion artifacts, and sequence-specific artifacts. Furthermore, the following quantitative parameters were obtained: relative peak signal enhancement, time to peak, mean transit time, and plasma flow ratios. Paired sampled t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for intraindividual comparison. Image analysis was performed by 2 radiologists. Results Six of 7 animals underwent the full imaging protocol and obtained data were analyzed statistically. Overall IQ was rated moderate to excellent, not differing significantly between the 2 sequences. Gadobutrol-enhanced CS-VIBE examinations revealed the highest mean Likert scale values in terms of vessel delineation and tumor enhancement (arterial 4.4 [4-5], venous 4.3 [3-5], and tumor 2.9 [2-3]). Significantly, more sequence-specific artifacts were seen in GRASP examinations (P = 0.008-0.031). However, these artifacts did not impair IQ. Excellent Likert scale ratings were found for motion artifacts in both sequences. In both sequences, a maximum of 4 hepatic arterial dominant phases were obtained. Regarding the relative peak signal enhancement, CS-VIBE and GRASP showed similar results. The relative peak signal enhancement values did not differ significantly between the 2 sequences in the aorta, the hepatic artery, or the inferior vena cava (P = 0.063-0.536). However, significantly higher values were noted for CS-VIBE in gadoxetic acid-enhanced examinations in the portal vein (P = 0.031) and regarding the tumor enhancement (P = 0.005). Time to peak and mean transit time or plasma flow ratios did not differ significantly between the sequences. Conclusions Both CS-VIBE and GRASP provide excellent results in dynamic liver MRI using extracellular and hepatocyte-specific contrast agents, in terms of IQ, peak signal intensity, and presence of artifacts.

Automated summary

The study compared the performance of two CS-accelerated MRI sequences for dynamic liver imaging and found similar results in terms of image quality, contrast enhancement, and presence of artifacts.