3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE
Abstract Background This study compared the image quality and diagnostic utility of stack-of-stars echo-unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state (SOS echo-uT1RESS) with the widely used magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence in brain tumor imaging. Methods In this prospect...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Cancer Imaging |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40644-025-00924-7 |
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| author | Adrienn Tóth Robert R. Edelman Dmitrij Kravchenko Justin A. Chetta Jennifer Joyce James Ira Griggers Ruoxun Zi Kai Tobias Block M. Vittoria Spampinato Akos Varga-Szemes |
| author_facet | Adrienn Tóth Robert R. Edelman Dmitrij Kravchenko Justin A. Chetta Jennifer Joyce James Ira Griggers Ruoxun Zi Kai Tobias Block M. Vittoria Spampinato Akos Varga-Szemes |
| author_sort | Adrienn Tóth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study compared the image quality and diagnostic utility of stack-of-stars echo-unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state (SOS echo-uT1RESS) with the widely used magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence in brain tumor imaging. Methods In this prospective, two-center observational study, each participant underwent 3T contrast-enhanced MRI of the brain with both standard MPRAGE and prototype SOS echo-uT1RESS sequences. Lesion size, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and tumor-to-brain contrast were quantitatively analyzed. Overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, and image artifacts were scored on a 4-point Likert scale, while diagnostic performance and assessment of the vascular and dural involvement were compared side-by-side by three readers. Results Thirty-four adult patients (mean age, 64 years ± 13 [SD], 12 men) with known brain tumors (N = 6 intra-axial primary tumors; N = 14 intra-axial metastases; N = 14 extra-axial tumors) were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference in CNR between MPRAGE and SOS echo-uT1RESS (29.4 ± 21.4 vs. 28.2 ± 16.5, respectively; p = 0.80, r = 0.03). SOS echo-uT1RESS demonstrated a 1.8-fold improvement in tumor-to-brain contrast compared with MPRAGE (0.7 ± 0.4 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3, respectively; p < 0.001, r = 0.81). While overall image quality and image artifacts were similar for both sequences, SOS echo-uT1RESS showed improved lesion conspicuity (p < 0.001, r = 0.51) and improved diagnostic performance (p < 0.001, r = 0.53), particularly for small metastases. Conclusion SOS echo-uT1RESS enhanced lesion visibility, achieving approximately a 1.8-fold improvement in tumor-to-brain contrast compared to MPRAGE, although this finding may reflect both sequence properties and timing-related effects. The sequence maintained comparable overall image quality and robustness, making it a promising tool for brain tumor imaging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b64be6468d0c4579b5e8ac959ed0f1e5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-7330 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Cancer Imaging |
| spelling | doaj-art-b64be6468d0c4579b5e8ac959ed0f1e52025-08-20T04:03:00ZengBMCCancer Imaging1470-73302025-08-0125111110.1186/s40644-025-00924-73 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGEAdrienn Tóth0Robert R. Edelman1Dmitrij Kravchenko2Justin A. Chetta3Jennifer Joyce4James Ira Griggers5Ruoxun Zi6Kai Tobias Block7M. Vittoria Spampinato8Akos Varga-Szemes9Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Radiology, NorthShore University Health SystemDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaThe Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of MedicineThe Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South CarolinaAbstract Background This study compared the image quality and diagnostic utility of stack-of-stars echo-unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state (SOS echo-uT1RESS) with the widely used magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence in brain tumor imaging. Methods In this prospective, two-center observational study, each participant underwent 3T contrast-enhanced MRI of the brain with both standard MPRAGE and prototype SOS echo-uT1RESS sequences. Lesion size, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and tumor-to-brain contrast were quantitatively analyzed. Overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, and image artifacts were scored on a 4-point Likert scale, while diagnostic performance and assessment of the vascular and dural involvement were compared side-by-side by three readers. Results Thirty-four adult patients (mean age, 64 years ± 13 [SD], 12 men) with known brain tumors (N = 6 intra-axial primary tumors; N = 14 intra-axial metastases; N = 14 extra-axial tumors) were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference in CNR between MPRAGE and SOS echo-uT1RESS (29.4 ± 21.4 vs. 28.2 ± 16.5, respectively; p = 0.80, r = 0.03). SOS echo-uT1RESS demonstrated a 1.8-fold improvement in tumor-to-brain contrast compared with MPRAGE (0.7 ± 0.4 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3, respectively; p < 0.001, r = 0.81). While overall image quality and image artifacts were similar for both sequences, SOS echo-uT1RESS showed improved lesion conspicuity (p < 0.001, r = 0.51) and improved diagnostic performance (p < 0.001, r = 0.53), particularly for small metastases. Conclusion SOS echo-uT1RESS enhanced lesion visibility, achieving approximately a 1.8-fold improvement in tumor-to-brain contrast compared to MPRAGE, although this finding may reflect both sequence properties and timing-related effects. The sequence maintained comparable overall image quality and robustness, making it a promising tool for brain tumor imaging.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40644-025-00924-7BrainTumorMetastases3TMRIPulse sequence |
| spellingShingle | Adrienn Tóth Robert R. Edelman Dmitrij Kravchenko Justin A. Chetta Jennifer Joyce James Ira Griggers Ruoxun Zi Kai Tobias Block M. Vittoria Spampinato Akos Varga-Szemes 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE Cancer Imaging Brain Tumor Metastases 3T MRI Pulse sequence |
| title | 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE |
| title_full | 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE |
| title_fullStr | 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE |
| title_short | 3 Tesla stack-of-stars echo unbalanced T1 relaxation-enhanced steady-state MRI for brain tumor imaging: post-contrast comparison with MPRAGE |
| title_sort | 3 tesla stack of stars echo unbalanced t1 relaxation enhanced steady state mri for brain tumor imaging post contrast comparison with mprage |
| topic | Brain Tumor Metastases 3T MRI Pulse sequence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40644-025-00924-7 |
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