Table 2.
Summary data for studies investigating the impact of specific MRI sequences on image quality
| Author [ref] | Year | Country | MR system | Endorectal coil | Aim of the study for image quality | MR sequence | Study design | Patients (n) | Scale used to assess prostate MR quality | Inter reader agreement (κ value) |
Key messages on image quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verma et al. 13 | 2016 | USA | 3T | Yes | To compare high b-value acquired DWI with computed DWI obtained using four diffusion models: i) mono-exponential; ii) intravoxel incoherent motion; iii) stretched exponential and iv) diffusional kurtosis. | DWI | Retrospective Three radiologists independently |
94 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | High b-value computed DWI demonstrated higher image quality and lesion conspicuity than acquired DWI except for diffusional kurtosis. |
| Westphalen et al. 14 | 2016 | USA | 3T | Yes | To compare the perceived quality of axial T2-weighted high-resolution 2D and high-resolution 3D fast spin-echo MRI. | T2-WI | Retrospective Six radiologists independently |
85 | Likert (1 to 3) | - | No difference in delineation of the zonal anatomy (p = 0.19), prostatic capsule (p = 0.14) and tumour conspicuity (p = 0.89). No difference when assessing motion artefacts (p = 0.48) and distortion (p = 0.41). 2D images significantly sharper than 3D (p < 0.001) and significantly more likely to exhibit non-motion artefacts (p = 0.002). No difference in confidence in tumour identification. 3D images might be a better option when time saving is crucial. |
| Zhang et al. 15 | 2016 | China | 3T | No | To investigate whether a new readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE)-based diffusional kurtosis imaging with reduced b-value technique can affect image quality and diagnostic effectiveness of prostate MRI. | DWI | Prospective Two radiologists independently |
120 | - | PI-RADS score: 0.39 to 0.41 Extracapsular extension: 0.86 to 0.89 Seminal vesicle invasion: 0.96 to 1 |
B values significantly influenced image quality, PI-RADS score, and diffusional-kurtosis imaging outputs. |
| Iyama et al. 16 | 2017 | Japan | 3T | No | To compare the quality of fat suppression and image quality between multiecho Dixon technique and spectrally adiabatic inversion recovery (SPAIR). | DCE | Prospective Two radiologists independently |
60 | Likert (1 to 4) | Homogeneity of fat suppression: 0.71 Image noise: 0.77 Image contrast: 0.76 Image sharpness: 0.81 |
Multiecho Dixon technique improved the homogeneity of fat suppression without degrade of image quality. |
| Tamada et al. 17 | 2017 | USA - Japan | 3T | No | To compare image between reduced field-of-view diffusion-weighted imaging (rFOV-DWI) and standard DWI (st-DWI). | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
49 | Likert (1 to 5) | Overall image quality: 0.13 Anatomic distortion: 0.07 Visualisation of the prostatic capsule: 0.18 Visualisation of PZ/TZ edge: 0.14 Clarity of the depicted lesion: 0.36 Assigned DWI score: 0.39 Confidence in the assigned DWI score: 0.18 |
Although rFOV-DWI may improve distortion for prostate DWI, only one reader reported significant improvement in image quality using this technique (p < 0.05). |
| Tanaka et al. 18 | 2017 | Japan | 3T | No | To investigate the impact of 3D T2-WI turbo spin-echo imaging (TSE T2-WI) with tissue-specific variable refocusing flip angle (TS-VRFA) on image quality compared to 2D and conventional T2-WI with volume isotropic TSE acquisition (VISTA). |
T2-WI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
40 | Likert (1 to 5) | Prostate cancer detection: 0.70 to 0.74 Extraprostatic extension: 0.66 to 0.73 |
TS-VRFA had better image quality than VISTA and equivalent to 2D (p < 0.05). |
| Corcuera-Solano et al. 19 | 2017 | USA | 3T | No | To compare a faster diagonal diffusion-weighted imaging (d-DWI) to conventional three-scan trace DWI (t-DWI) acquisition in terms of image quality, tumour detection/conspicuity and quantitative estimated signal-to-noise ratio (eSNR). | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
34 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | eSNR was lower with d-DWI (p < 0.05). d-DWI provided a substantial reduction in acquisition time (30%) with equivalent image quality and tumour detection. |
| Stocker et al. 20 | 2017 | Switzerland | 3T | No | To compare image quality and geometric distortion of four DWI sequences using comparable imaging parameters and similar acquisition times. | DWI | Prospective Two radiologists independently |
10 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | Single-shot spin-echo (Ss-EPI) and prototype single-shot technique applying slice-specific Shimming (iShim-EPI) showed a tendency toward superior image quality and signal-to-noise ratio compared with readout-segmented multishot (rs-EPI) and selective excitation–reduced field of view (sTX-EPI) with no significant differences in geometric distortion. |
| Xi et al. 21 | 2018 | USA | 3T | Yes | To optimise a low-to-high b value DWI ratio approach in terms of visual presentation of prostate cancer and compare it against conventional ADC maps. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
43 | Likert (1 to 5) | Artefacts: 0.39 Cancer conspicuity: 0.72 Image quality: 0.64 |
Optimised DWI ratio images were comparable both quantitatively and qualitatively to ADC maps for the interpretation of DWI data. |
| Ma et al. 22 | 2018 | China | 3T | No | To compare high b value (2,000 s/mm2) reduced field-of-view (rFOV) DWI with a conventional DWI sequence in terms of image quality. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
61 | Likert (1 to 5) | Overall image quality: 0.79 and 0.78 | The rFOV DWI could offer improved image compared to the conventional sequence. |
| Polanec et al. 23 | 2018 | Austria | 3T | No | To determine whether 3D acquisitions provide equivalent image quality compared to 2D acquisitions in T2-WI. | T2-WI | Prospective Two radiologists independently |
150 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | 3D showed equivalent image quality and lesion delineation compared to 2D T2-WI, shortening the MR protocol by 40%. |
| Warndahl et al. 24 | 2018 | USA | 3T | Yes | To compare the image quality and quantitative data provided by a conventional DWI sequence and a limited Field of view Optimised and Constrained Undistorted Single shot (FOCUS) DWI sequence. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
44 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | FOCUS showed significantly better image quality compared to the conventional sequence (p < 0.001). |
| Rosenkrantz et al. 25 | 2018 | USA | 3T | No | To compare standard and reduced field-of-view (rFOV) DWI acquisitions in two patients with hip implants. | DWI | Case reports | 2 | - | - | Improved tumour detection and localisation using the rFOV acquisition scheme improves image quality in patients with hip implants. |
| Czarniecki et al. 26 | 2018 | United Kingdom | 1.5T | No | To compare image quality, artefact, and distortion in standard echo-planar imaging (EPI) with periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) for DWI in patients with previous total hip replacement. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
21 | Likert (1 to 4) and Likert (1 to 5) | T2-WI quality: 0.53 Artefacts on T2-WI: 0.94 Artefacts on EP-DWI: 0.82 Image quality on EP-DWI: 0.73 Image quality for PROPELLER-DWI-FS: 0.75 Artefacts on PROPELLER-DWI-FS: 0.78 Distortion on EP-DWI: 0.20 Distortion on PROPELLER-DWI-FS: 0.3 |
PROPELLER-DWI demonstrated better image quality and decreased both artefact and distortion compared to conventional echo planar sequences in patients with hip metalwork. |
| Meier-Schroers et al. 27 | 2018 | Germany | 3T | No | To evaluate revised PROPELLER (RevPROP) for T2-WI as a substitute for turbo spin echo. |
T2-WI | Prospective Two radiologists in consensus |
50 | Likert (1 to 4) | - | RevPROP showed fewer artefacts and higher image quality (p < 0.001) than turbo spin echo sequences. |
| Jendoubi et al. 28 | 2019 | France | 3T | No | To compare computed high b-value diffusion-weighted images (c-DWI) derived from low b-value DWI images and acquired high b-value DWI (a-DWI), in overall image quality. | DWI | Retrospective Four radiologists independently |
124 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | Computed b 2,000 s/mm2 and b 2,500 s/mm2 images had significant higher overall quality, better background signal suppression, better anatomic clarity and less distortion compared with acquired b 2,000 images (p < 0.001). Greater conspicuity of the index lesions for both computed b 2,000 s/mm2 and computed b 2,500 s/mm2 images (p < 0.001). |
| Kordbacheh et al. 29 | 2019 | USA | 3T | No | To evaluate the impact of complex-averaging on image quality and diagnostic accuracy of acquired and calculated high b-value (aHBV, cHBV) images in DWI. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
84 | Likert (1 to 3) | - | Complex-averaging improved image quality of acquired high b value and calculated high b value images (p < 0.001). The image quality of calculated high b value images was not significantly different than acquired high b value images. Complex-averaging provided better image quality and level of confidence without significant impact on diagnostic accuracy for the detection of significant prostate lesions. |
| Hellms et al. 30 | 2019 | Germany | 3T | No | To evaluate readout-segmented echoplanar (rsEPI) DWI compared to single-shot echoplanar imaging (ssEPI) sequences. | DWI | Prospective Two radiologists independently |
110 | Likert (1 to 5) | - | Anatomic delineation was significantly better and image quality higher with rsEPI than with ssEPI. |
| Klingebiel et al. 31 | 2020 | Germany | 3T | No | To evaluate image quality comparing high resolution readout-segmented (rs) multi shot echo-planar imaging (EPI), parallel transmit (ptx) EPI, and single-shot (ss) EPI with different b-values. | DWI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
36 | Likert (1 to 5) | rs-EPI: 0.76 to 0.83 ptx-EPI: 0.83 to 0.92 ss-EPI: 0.86 to 0.94 |
Image quality of rs-EPI is higher compared to ptx-EPI or ss-EPI, at the expense of longer acquisition time. |
| Gassenmaier et al. 32 | 2021 | Germany | 3T | No | To introduce a novel deep learning (DL) T2W TSE imaging (T2DL) and investigate its impact on image quality compared to standard T2W TSE imaging (T2S). | T2-WI | Retrospective Two radiologists independently |
30 | Likert (1 to 4) | Image quality: 0.68 T2 score:
PI-RADS score:
|
Noise levels and overall image quality of T2DL are significantly superior compared to T2S (p < 0.001). |
| Wang et al. 33 | 2021 | USA | 1.5T or 3T | Yes (turned on and turned off) | To evaluate the performance of a deep learning-based reconstruction method (DLR) to T2WI in improving image quality and mitigating artefacts. | T2-WI | Retrospective Three radiologists independently |
31 | Likert (1 to 3) and Likert (1 to 5) | Image quality: 0.58 Artefacts: 0.34 |
The non-endorectal coil (i.e., turned off) DLR was the best series for overall image quality, reduced artefacts and visualisation of anatomical landmarks and tumour. |