Rationale and Objectives
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and technical quality of
a zoomed three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) sampling perfection with application
optimized contrasts using different flip-angle evolutions (SPACE) sequence of the
lumbar spine.
Materials and Methods
In this prospective feasibility study, nine volunteers underwent a 3-T magnetic resonance
examination of the lumbar spine including 1) a conventional 3D T2-weighted (T2w) SPACE
sequence with generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition technique
acceleration factor 2 and 2) a zoomed 3D T2w SPACE sequence with a reduced field of
view (reduction factor 2). Images were evaluated with regard to image sharpness, signal
homogeneity, and the presence of artifacts by two experienced radiologists. For quantitative
analysis, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values were calculated.
Results
Image sharpness of anatomic structures was statistically significantly greater with
zoomed SPACE (P < .0001), whereas the signal homogeneity was statistically significantly greater
with conventional SPACE (cSPACE; P = .0003). There were no statistically significant differences in extent of artifacts.
Acquisition times were 8:20 minutes for cSPACE and 6:30 minutes for zoomed SPACE.
Readers 1 and 2 selected zSPACE as the preferred sequence in five of nine cases. In
two of nine cases, both sequences were rated as equally preferred by both the readers.
SNR values were statistically significantly greater with cSPACE.
Conclusions
In comparison to a cSPACE sequences, zoomed SPACE imaging of the lumbar spine provides
sharper images in conjunction with a 25% reduction in acquisition time.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 27, 2014
Accepted:
September 26,
2014
Received:
August 18,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 AUR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
