Comparison of single-breath-hold fast spin-echo sequences with routine non-breath-hold techniques: Application to MRI of renal masses

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Abstract
In 24 patients presenting with 55 renal lesions (mean size, 20.8 mm), single‐breath‐hold (SBH) fast spin‐echo (FSE) techniques allowing T1 and T2 images to be produced within 20 and 23 sec, respectively, were compared with routine non‐breath‐hold (NBH) spin‐echo (SE) T1 and NBH‐FSE T2 sequences. Contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNRs) measured from SBH‐FSE T1 images were an average of 97% higher than their NBH counterparts (P = .0001) and allowed an improved lesion conspicuity in 80% of the cases (P = .0001). For T2 imaging, SBH‐FSE and NBH‐FSE sequences were not statistically different with respect to lesion conspicuity (P = .55) and CNR values (P = .19). This was observed despite a 35% average decrease in CNR of SBH‐FSE compared to NBH‐FSE images. By reducing respiratory motion artifacts while preserving SE‐like image contrast, SBH‐FSE techniques have the potential to replace routine NBH sequences for an optimal diagnosis of renal masses.