Readout segmented echo planar imaging in the evaluation of sinonasal lesions: A comprehensive comparison of image quality in single shot echo planar imaging.
PURPOSE To investigate the role of readout segmented echo planar imaging using parallel imaging and a two dimensional (2D) navigator (RESOLVE) in the evaluation of sinonasal lesions and to qualitatively and quantitatively compare the image qualities of single shot echo planar imaging (SS EPI) and RESOLVE. MATERIALS AND METHODS Both sinonasal SS EPI and RESOLVE images were acquired from 32 patients on a 3 T MR scanner. Image quality, lesion conspicuity and the distortions of the SS EPI and RESOLVE images were qualitatively evaluated by two radiologists. Distortion was also quantitatively evaluated by comparing the distances between the same anatomic points on TSE T1WI, TSE T2WI, SS EPI and RESOLVE images. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, signal to noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast to noise ratios (CNRs) of the two DWIs were compared. RESULTS The comparisons of the qualitative scores indicated that RESOLVE significantly improved the image quality and lesion conspicuity and reduced the distortion of the sinonasal diseases. The orbit, skull base, temporal bone and upper neck were also better displayed on RESOLVE. Quantitative evaluations revealed that RESOLVE greatly reduced but did not completely remove the distortion. The ADC values of the sinonasal lesions on RESOLVE were lower than those on SS EPI, whereas no differences were found in the brainstem. The SNR of RESOLVE was lower than that of SS EPI. There were no differences in the CNRs of the two diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) techniques. CONCLUSION RESOLVE significantly improved the image quality for evaluations of sinonasal lesions by reducing the susceptibility artifacts, distortion and blurring compared with SS EPI. RESOVLE offers more accurate ADC values of sinonasal lesions than SS EPI.
Magnetic resonance imaging