MRI sequence focused on pancreatic morphology evaluation: three-shot turbo spin-echo with deep learning-based reconstruction

Abstract

Background

Higher-resolution magnetic resonance imaging sequences are needed for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose

To compare the quality of our novel T2-weighted, high-contrast, thin-slice imaging sequence, with an improved spatial resolution and deep learning-based reconstruction (three-shot turbo spin-echo with deep learning-based reconstruction [3S-TSE-DLR]), for imaging the pancreas with imaging using three conventional sequences (half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo [HASTE], fat-suppressed 3D T1-weighted [FS-3D-T1W] imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography [MRCP]).

Material and Methods

Pancreatic images of 50 healthy volunteers acquired with 3S-TSE-DLR, HASTE, FS-3D-T1W imaging, and MRCP were compared by two diagnostic radiologists. A 5-point scale was used for assessing motion artifacts, pancreatic margin sharpness, and the ability to identify the main pancreatic duct (MPD) on 3S-TSE-DLR, HASTE, and FS-3D-T1W imaging, respectively. The ability to identify MPD via MRCP was also evaluated.

Results

Artifact scores (the higher the score, the fewer the artifacts) were significantly higher for 3S-TSE-DLR than for HASTE, and significantly lower for 3S-TSE-DLR than for FS-3D-T1W imaging, for both radiologists. Sharpness scores were significantly higher for 3S-TSE-DLR than for HASTE and FS-3D-T1W imaging, for both radiologists. The rate of identification of MPD was significantly higher for 3S-TSE-DLR than for FS-3D-T1W imaging, for both radiologists, and significantly higher for 3S-TSE-DLR than for HASTE for one radiologist. The rate of identification of MPD was not significantly different between 3S-TSE-DLR and MRCP.

Conclusion

3S-TSE-DLR provides better image sharpness than conventional sequences, can identify MPD equally as well or better than HASTE, and shows identification performance comparable to that of MRCP.