HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rofsky, N. M. Articles by Weinreb, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rofsky, N. M. Articles by Weinreb, J. C.

Abdominal MR Imaging with a Volumetric Interpolated Breath-hold Examination¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, MRI-Basement, Schwartz Bldg, 530 First Ave, New York, NY 10016 (N.M.R., V.S.L., M.A.P., G.A.K., M.M.A., J.C.W.), and Siemens Medical Systems (G.L., D.T.). Received October 1, 1998; revision requested November 11; revision received December 28; accepted April 1, 1999. Address reprint requests to N.M.R.

View larger version (18K): [in a new window]   Figure 1. Schematic shows a k-space acquisition in the volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination. The dark gray area is filled with Ny x Nz data points. The remaining light gray area is filled with zeros to provide smaller voxel size. The actual spatial resolution is defined by kymax along the y direction and kzmax along the z direction. kymax corresponds to 80 frequency-encoding samples, and kzmax corresponds to 20 partition-encoding gradients.

View larger version (147K): [in a new window]   Figure 2a. Fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold images from the same data set obtained during the arterial phase of contrast material administration in a patient with cirrhosis. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) was obtained near the level of the celiac axis origin. Note that two vessels (arrows) originate from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta. (b) MR angiogram was created by means of the MIP technique with a restricted volume of interest and presented in an oblique orientation. This image effectively demonstrates the variant anatomy of an independent origin of the hepatic artery (arrow); the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery origins are depicted above and below, respectively.

View larger version (154K): [in a new window]   Figure 2b. Fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold images from the same data set obtained during the arterial phase of contrast material administration in a patient with cirrhosis. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) was obtained near the level of the celiac axis origin. Note that two vessels (arrows) originate from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta. (b) MR angiogram was created by means of the MIP technique with a restricted volume of interest and presented in an oblique orientation. This image effectively demonstrates the variant anatomy of an independent origin of the hepatic artery (arrow); the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery origins are depicted above and below, respectively.

View larger version (96K): [in a new window]   Figure 3a. Portal phase fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold images from the same data set in a patient with widespread metastatic disease. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) was obtained during the portal venous phase of contrast material administration. Liver (solid arrows) and left renal (open arrow) metastases are evident. (b) Coronal 8-mm reconstruction image provides an alternative perspective for evaluation and shows other liver (solid arrows) and renal (open arrows) metastases. (c) MIP image with restricted volume demonstrates the relationship of the metastases (solid arrows) to the intrahepatic vessels, which is useful for presurgical and preinterventional planning. A large left renal metastasis (open arrow) is seen projecting off the upper pole.

View larger version (88K): [in a new window]   Figure 3b. Portal phase fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold images from the same data set in a patient with widespread metastatic disease. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) was obtained during the portal venous phase of contrast material administration. Liver (solid arrows) and left renal (open arrow) metastases are evident. (b) Coronal 8-mm reconstruction image provides an alternative perspective for evaluation and shows other liver (solid arrows) and renal (open arrows) metastases. (c) MIP image with restricted volume demonstrates the relationship of the metastases (solid arrows) to the intrahepatic vessels, which is useful for presurgical and preinterventional planning. A large left renal metastasis (open arrow) is seen projecting off the upper pole.

View larger version (99K): [in a new window]   Figure 3c. Portal phase fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold images from the same data set in a patient with widespread metastatic disease. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) was obtained during the portal venous phase of contrast material administration. Liver (solid arrows) and left renal (open arrow) metastases are evident. (b) Coronal 8-mm reconstruction image provides an alternative perspective for evaluation and shows other liver (solid arrows) and renal (open arrows) metastases. (c) MIP image with restricted volume demonstrates the relationship of the metastases (solid arrows) to the intrahepatic vessels, which is useful for presurgical and preinterventional planning. A large left renal metastasis (open arrow) is seen projecting off the upper pole.

View larger version (109K): [in a new window]   Figure 4a. Fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold MIP images (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) generated from axial 2-mm source images obtained during the arterial and portal venous phases after contrast material administration. (a) Arterial phase coronal MIP image demonstrates an incidental left renal arterial stenosis (arrow). Residual contrast material from the test dose is depicted in the renal collecting systems. (b) Portal venous phase coronal MIP image demonstrates both venous and arterial anatomy. The mesenteric veins (long straight arrows), the splenic vein (curved arrow), and the portal vein (short straight arrows ) are the most conspicuous vessels.

View larger version (104K): [in a new window]   Figure 4b. Fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold MIP images (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle) generated from axial 2-mm source images obtained during the arterial and portal venous phases after contrast material administration. (a) Arterial phase coronal MIP image demonstrates an incidental left renal arterial stenosis (arrow). Residual contrast material from the test dose is depicted in the renal collecting systems. (b) Portal venous phase coronal MIP image demonstrates both venous and arterial anatomy. The mesenteric veins (long straight arrows), the splenic vein (curved arrow), and the portal vein (short straight arrows ) are the most conspicuous vessels.

View larger version (165K): [in a new window]   Figure 5a. Precontrast fat-saturated images demonstrate similar image quality. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). The pancreas is seen as the intraabdominal organ with the highest signal intensity on all three images. Qualitative analysis demonstrated a significantly lower score for clarity of the pancreas edge in a compared with that in b or c.

View larger version (159K): [in a new window]   Figure 5b. Precontrast fat-saturated images demonstrate similar image quality. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). The pancreas is seen as the intraabdominal organ with the highest signal intensity on all three images. Qualitative analysis demonstrated a significantly lower score for clarity of the pancreas edge in a compared with that in b or c.

View larger version (146K): [in a new window]   Figure 5c. Precontrast fat-saturated images demonstrate similar image quality. (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). The pancreas is seen as the intraabdominal organ with the highest signal intensity on all three images. Qualitative analysis demonstrated a significantly lower score for clarity of the pancreas edge in a compared with that in b or c.

View larger version (121K): [in a new window]   Figure 6a. Delayed postcontrast fat-saturated images in a patient with an incidental left adrenal adenoma (arrow in a-c). (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). Quantitative results showed significantly higher SNR measurements for the liver, aorta, and renal cortex in b compared with those in a or c. However, image quality appears similar.

View larger version (116K): [in a new window]   Figure 6b. Delayed postcontrast fat-saturated images in a patient with an incidental left adrenal adenoma (arrow in a-c). (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). Quantitative results showed significantly higher SNR measurements for the liver, aorta, and renal cortex in b compared with those in a or c. However, image quality appears similar.

View larger version (127K): [in a new window]   Figure 6c. Delayed postcontrast fat-saturated images in a patient with an incidental left adrenal adenoma (arrow in a-c). (a) Axial 2-mm fat-saturated volumetric interpolated breath-hold source image (4.2/1.8 with 12° flip angle). (b) Axial 8-mm reconstruction image. (c) Axial 8-mm-thick 2D fat-saturated image (180/2.8 with 80° flip angle). Quantitative results showed significantly higher SNR measurements for the liver, aorta, and renal cortex in b compared with those in a or c. However, image quality appears similar.