AI-assisted compressed sensing and parallel imaging sequences for MRI of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: comparison of their capabilities in terms of examination time and image quality

OBJECTIVE: To compare examination time and image quality between artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted compressed sensing (ACS) technique and parallel imaging (PI) technique in MRI of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with pathologically confirmed NPC underwent nasopharynx and neck examination using a 3.0-T MRI system. Transverse T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence, transverse T1-weighted FSE sequence, post-contrast transverse T1-weighted FSE sequence, and post-contrast coronal T1-weighted FSE were obtained by both ACS and PI techniques, respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and duration of scanning of both sets of images analyzed by ACS and PI techniques were compared. The images from the ACS and PI techniques were scored for lesion detection, margin sharpness of lesions, artifacts, and overall image quality using the 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The examination time with ACS technique was significantly shorter than that with PI technique (p < 0.0001). The comparison of SNR and CNR showed that ACS technique was significantly superior with PI technique (p < 0.005). Qualitative image analysis showed that the scores of lesion detection, margin sharpness of lesions, artifacts, and overall image quality were higher in the ACS sequences than those in the PI sequences (p < 0.0001). Inter-observer agreement was evaluated for all qualitative indicators for each method, in which the results showed satisfactory-to-excellent agreement (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Compared with the PI technique, the ACS technique for MR examination of NPC can not only shorten scanning time but also improve image quality. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted compressed sensing (ACS) technique shortens examination time for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, while improving the image quality and examination success rate, which will benefit more patients. KEY POINTS: • Compared with the parallel imaging (PI) technique, the artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted compressed sensing (ACS) technique not only reduced examination time, but also improved image quality. • Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted compressed sensing (ACS) pulls the state-of-the-art deep learning technique into the reconstruction procedure and helps find an optimal balance of imaging speed and image quality.