Wiesmüller M, Kopp M, Sievert M, May M, Nagel AM, Iro H, Uder M, Heiß R (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Book Volume: 165
Article Number: 110927
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.110927
Objectives: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the most common mass of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and is responsible for unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T and 3 T is the standard of care for the evaluation of VS, and the feasibility of using modern low-field MRI for imaging of the IAC has not yet been elucidated. Hence, the purpose of this prospective study was to assess image quality and diagnostic performance of a modern 0.55 T MRI. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six patients with known unilateral VS underwent routine MRI of the IAC at 1.5 T, followed immediately by 0.55 T MRI. Two radiologists independently evaluated the image quality, conspicuity of VS, diagnostic confidence, and image artifacts separately for isotropic T2-weighted SPACE images and for transversal and coronal T1-weighted fat-saturated contrast-enhanced images at 1.5 T and 0.55 T using 5-point Likert scales. In a second independent reading, both readers assessed lesion conspicuity and subjective diagnostic confidence in a direct comparison of 1.5 T and 0.55 T images. Results: Image quality of transversal T1-weighted images (p = 0.13 and p = 0.16 for Reader 1 and Reader 2, respectively) and T2-weighted SPACE images (p = 0.39 and p = 0.58) were rated equally at 1.5 T and 0.55 T by both readers, whereas image quality of coronal T1-weighted images was superior at 1.5 T (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001). Analysis of the conspicuity of VS, diagnostic confidence, and image artifacts of all sequences revealed no significant differences between 1.5 T and 0.55 T. In the direct comparison of 1.5 T with 0.55 T images, there were no significant differences in lesion conspicuity or diagnostic confidence for any sequence (p = 0.60–0.73). Conclusions: Modern low-field MRI at 0.55 T provided a sufficient diagnostic image quality and seems feasible for the evaluation of VS of the IAC.
APA:
Wiesmüller, M., Kopp, M., Sievert, M., May, M., Nagel, A.M., Iro, H.,... Heiß, R. (2023). Comparison of vestibular schwannoma visualization between 0.55 T and 1.5 T MRI. European Journal of Radiology, 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.110927
MLA:
Wiesmüller, Marco, et al. "Comparison of vestibular schwannoma visualization between 0.55 T and 1.5 T MRI." European Journal of Radiology 165 (2023).
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