Comparison of ability of lesion detection of two MRI sequences of T2WI HASTE and T2WI BLADE for hepatocellular carcinoma

We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences of T2 weighted image (T2WI) half-Fourier acquired single turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and BLADE, for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection. From November 2010 to August 2018, patients diagnosed with HCC and regularly followed up, and who underwent MRI with 2 kinds of T2WI, were included in this study. The diagnosis of HCC was established based on histopathological findings or LI-RADS 4 and 5 by image. The sensitivities and positive predictive value for the detection of HCC by T2WI HASTE and BLADE were compared for each sequence. Quantitative assessment with lesion contrast-to-noise ratio and visual rating scoring of image quality, based on factors such as artifact, margin of organs, and vessel sharpness of the 2 sequences, were compared. No significant differences in lesion detection were observed based on paired comparison of all lesions and lesions larger than 1 cm across both sequences. The sensitivity was higher in larger than 1cm group in all sequences. The HASTE sequence had less motion artifact, but the BLADE images had advantage in edge sharpness of organs and vessels. The HASTE without fat-saturation seems to have better overall image quality. The lesions contrast-to-noise ratio of the 2 image modalities were not significantly different. Compared with T2 BLADE, T2 HASTE may be a more effective protocol for detecting HCC larger than 1 cm without loss of sensitivity. The accuracy of data from 2 T2WI protocols could be applied to streamline MRI protocols of HCC screening and surveillance.