Synthetic MRI of the lumbar spine at 3.0 T: feasibility and image quality comparison with conventional MRI

Abstract

Background Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can generate multiple morphologic MR images as well as quantitative maps from a single sequence, is not widely used in the spine at 3.0 T. Purpose To investigate the feasibility of synthetic MRI of the lumbar spine in clinical practice at 3.0 T. Material and Methods Eighty-four patients with lumbar diseases underwent conventional T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images, short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) images, and synthetic MRI of the lumbar spine at 3.0 T. The quantitative and qualitative image quality and agreement for detection of spinal lesions between conventional and synthetic MRI were compared by two radiologists. Results The signal-to-noise ratios of synthetic MRI showed an inferior image quality in the vertebrae and disc, whereas were higher for spinal canal and fat on the synthetic T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and STIR images. The contrast-to-noise ratios of the synthetic MRI was superior to conventional sequences, except for the vertebrae–disc contrast-to-noise ratio on T1-weighted imaging ( P = 0.005). Image quality assessments showed that synthetic MRI had greater STIR fat suppression ( P < 0.001) and fluid brightness ( P = 0.014), as well as higher degree of artifacts ( P < 0.001) and worse spatial resolution ( P = 0.002). The inter-method agreements for detection of spinal lesions were substantial to perfect (kappa, 0.614–0.925). Conclusion Synthetic MRI is a feasible method for lumbar spine imaging in a clinical setting at 3.0-T MR. It provides morphologic sequences with acceptable image quality, good agreement with conventional MRI for detection of spinal lesions and quantitative image maps with a slightly shorter acquisition time compared with conventional MRI.

The quantitative parameters based on marrow metabolism derived from synthetic MRI: A pilot study of prognostic value in participants with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

“…The quantitative parameters derived from SyMRI have been used for a variety of organs or diseases 15–18,23–25 . Our study demonstrated that T1 and T2 values of lumbar marrow could predict the early treatment response in newly diagnosed MM and help to precise risk stratification of the R‐ISS II stage.…”

“…[15][16][17] It has previously been proposed that these parameters may comprehensively characterize metabolic changes in BM composition caused by tumor cells proliferation in patients with hematological diseases. 18 We hypothesized that the parameters of SyMRI may reflect the overall pathological changes of infiltrated marrow in MM, and can be used to evaluate the metabolic tumor burden.…”

“…The parameters had been used to various diseases in the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions, and the evaluation of prognostic factors or posttreatment changes 15–17 . It has previously been proposed that these parameters may comprehensively characterize metabolic changes in BM composition caused by tumor cells proliferation in patients with hematological diseases 18 . We hypothesized that the parameters of SyMRI may reflect the overall pathological changes of infiltrated marrow in MM, and can be used to evaluate the metabolic tumor burden.…”

3D MRI of the Spine

“…64 Feasibility studies comparing synthetic and conventionally acquired 2D sequences of the spine showed good interobserver agreement, although with greater artifacts. 65,66 To date, synthetic CT data obtained from MRI have not been used successfully with neuronavigational software and are still under investigation. 67 Thorough evaluation of synthetic MRI in spine applications may yield further time savings and expanded applications for both 2D and 3D protocols.…”

Synthetic MRI plus FSE-PROPELLER DWI for differentiating malignant from benign head and neck tumors: a preliminary study

“…Also, quantitative values (PD, T1, and T2) can be simultaneously acquired on the synthetic MRI, which enables a significant reduction in examination time with good accuracy and reproducibility for use in clinical practice (individual patient follow-up and comparison analysis ( 9 – 11 ). This approach has been used in the study of multiple systemic diseases of the brain ( 12 ), knee ( 13 ), spine ( 14 ), prostate ( 15 ), breast ( 16 ), bladder ( 17 ), and nasopharynx ( 18 ).…”