Fat saturation versus spin-echo sequences for abdominal imaging

This paper compares the value of T2-weighted fat-saturation spin-echo sequences (T2-SE fatsat) to T2-weighted spin-echo (T2-SE) images for assessing adrenal glands, pancreas, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, focal liver disease, conspicuity of lesions, portal and hepatic veins, and overall quality of images. With use of a GE Signa (1.5-T) imager, 67 patients with and 17 without focal liver lesions were examined with T1- and T2-SE (TR 300-600, TE 20, or IR TR 2,000, TE 20, TI 650; and TR 2,000-2,500, TE 20/80-100, with and without fat saturation) and results of the two T2 sequences were compared. Individual features were ranked 1+ (poor) to 4+ (excellent) or 0 (definitely normal) to 4 (definitely abnormal), and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRS) were calculated. Average quality of visualizing adrenal glands with T2-SE fatsat was 3.0 versus 2.0 for T2-SE; pancreas, 2.9 versus 2.5; GI tract, 2.0 versus 2.0, and mean overall quality 2.8 versus 2.5. For portal/hepatic veins respectively, T2-SE fatsat had fewer equivocal and no false results (15 false for T2-SE)