Objective

This study investigated ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences in 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for small lung nodule detection.

Materials and methods

A total of 120 patients with 165 small lung nodules before video-associated thoracoscopic resection were enrolled. MRI sequences included conventional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE, scan time 16 s), spiral UTE (TE 0.05 ms) with free-breathing (scan time 3.5–5 min), and breath-hold sequences (scan time 20 s). Chest CT provided a standard reference for nodule size and morphology. Nodule detection sensitivity was evaluated on a lobe-by-lobe basis.

Results

The nodule detection rate was significantly higher in spiral UTE free-breathing (> 78%, p < 0.05) and breath-hold sequences (> 75%, p < 0.05) compared with conventional VIBE (> 55%), reaching 100% when nodule size was > 16 mm, and reaching 95% when nodules were in solid morphology, regardless of size. The inter-sequence reliability between free-breathing and breath-hold spiral UTE was good (κ > 0.80). Inter-reader agreement was also high (κ > 0.77) for spiral UTE sequences. Nodule size measurements were consistent between CT and spiral UTE MRI, with a minimal bias up to 0.2 mm.

Discussion

Spiral UTE sequences detect small lung nodules that warrant surgery, offers realistic scan times for clinical work, and could be implemented as part of routine lung MRI.

中文翻译：

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在 1.5 T MRI 中用螺旋超短回波时间序列检测肺小结节。

客观的

本研究调查了 1.5 T 磁共振成像 (MRI) 中用于检测肺小结节的超短回波时间 (UTE) 序列。

材料和方法

共有 120 名患者在视频相关胸腔镜切除术前有 165 个肺小结节。MRI 序列包括常规体积内插屏气检查（VIBE，扫描时间 16 秒）、螺旋 UTE（TE 0.05 毫秒）与自由呼吸（扫描时间 3.5-5 分钟）和屏气序列（扫描时间 20 秒） . 胸部 CT 为结节大小和形态提供了标准参考。在逐叶的基础上评估结节检测灵敏度。

结果

 与常规VIBE（> 55％）相比，螺旋UTE自由呼吸（> 78％，p  < 0.05）和屏气序列（> 75％，p < 0.05）的结节检出率显着更高，达到100％时结节大小 > 16 mm，当结节呈实心形态时，无论大小，均达到 95%。自由呼吸和屏气螺旋 UTE 之间的序列间可靠性良好（κ  > 0.80）。 对于螺旋 UTE 序列，读者间一致性也很高（κ > 0.77）。CT 和螺旋 UTE MRI 的结节大小测量结果一致，最小偏差高达 0.2 mm。

讨论

螺旋 UTE 序列检测需要手术的小肺结节，为临床工作提供真实的扫描时间，并且可以作为常规肺 MRI 的一部分实施。