Evaluation of pulmonary nodules by magnetic resonance imaging sequences: which sequence will replace computed tomography?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the role of magnetic resonance imaging in minimizing radiation exposure, especially in the follow-up of pulmonary nodules. METHODS: Patients who applied to our hospital between April 2013 and August 2018 for various reasons and had lung-mediastinal dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and thoracic computed tomography were included in the study. A total of 194 patients were included in the study, involving 84 females and 110 males. Scanning of the nodules was done retrospectively. This study was conducted by two readers: a thoracic radiologist with 15 years of experience and a nonspecific radiologist with 4 years of experience. Evaluations were made using the double-blind method. RESULTS: Of the 194 patients, 84 (43.3%) were female and 110 (56.7%) were male. For the first reader, 135 (69.5%) nodules were detected in postcontrast T1 vibe images, 130 (67%) in T2 fast spin echo, 128 (66%) in precontrast T1 vibe, and 98 (50.5%) in T2 turbo inversion recovery magnitude sequence. For the second reader, 133 (68%) nodules were detected in postcontrast T1 vibe images, 120 (61.9%) in T2 fast spin echo, 122 (62.9%) in precontrast T1 vibe, and 99 (51%) in T2 turbo inversion recovery magnitude sequence. Capability levels were examined in detecting nodules between the first and second readers, and the ratios were reached at 0.92 in T2 fast spin echo, 0.81 in postcontrast T1 vibe images, 0.93 in precontrast T1 vibe, and 0.96 in T2 turbo inversion recovery magnitude sequence. CONCLUSION: In this study of detecting pulmonary nodules by magnetic resonance imaging, which we performed with two different readers, one of whom was an experienced thoracic radiologist, both readers found the highest detection rate in the postcontrast T1 vibe sequence.