对比自适应图像接收线圈与常规前部阵列线圈采集肺结节零回波时间序列图像质量

目的 对比以自适应图像接收（AIR）线圈与常规前部阵列（CAA）线圈采集的肺结节零回波时间（ZTE）序列图像质量。方法 采用相同扫描参数，分别以AIR线圈、CAA线圈，对32例CT显示肺结节（共42枚结节，包括16枚实性结节、17枚磨玻璃结节及9枚混杂磨玻璃结节）患者采集ZTE序列图像，获得AIR-ZTE及CAA-ZTE；比较2种图像主动脉弓上份、肺动脉分叉及肺底层面的肺实质信号强度（SI）、肺内血管SI、肺实质信噪比（SNR）及对比度噪声比（CNR），记录其显示不同成分肺结节数目；以CT结果为标准，比较其结节检出率、SNR及CNR及图像质量主观评分差异。结果 2种图像中，主动脉弓上份、肺动脉分叉及肺底层面肺实质SI、肺内血管SI差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.01），SNR_肺差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）；主动脉弓上份及肺动脉分叉层面CNR_肺差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05），肺底层面差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。CAA-ZTE检出实性结节16枚、磨玻璃结节12枚、混杂磨玻璃结节9枚，AIR-ZTE分别检出16、13及9枚，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。2种图像所示磨玻璃结节及混杂磨玻璃结节实性成分的CNR差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05），其余图像质量客观指标差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）；AIR-ZTE图像质量主观评分高于CAA-ZTE （P<0.05）。结论 以AIR线圈采集的肺结节ZTE图像质量优于CAA线圈。

Comparison on quality of zero echo time sequence images obtained with adaptive image receive coil and conventional anterior array coil for lung nodules

Objective To compare the image quality of zero echo time (ZTE) sequence images obtained with adaptive image receive (AIR) coil and conventional anterior array (CAA) coil for lung nodules. Methods AIR-ZTE and CAA-ZTE images of 32 patients with 42 nodules diagnosed with chest CT (including 16 solid nodules, 17 ground glass nodules and 9 mixed ground glass nodules) were acquired with the same parameters, respectively. The pulmonary parenchyma signal intensity (SI), pulmonary vascular SI, pulmonary parenchyma signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast noise ratio (CNR) at the level of upper aortic arch, pulmonary artery bifurcation and pulmonary floor planes were compared. The number of pulmonary nodules detected with 2 kinds of ZTE images were observed, and the detection rate of lung nodules were compared based on CT results, so as the SNR and CNR. The subjective scores of 2 kinds of ZTE images were also compared. Results The pulmonary parenchyma and pulmonary vascular SI at the level of upper aortic arch, pulmonary artery bifurcation and pulmonary floor planes were significantly different between AIR-ZTE and CAA-ZTE (all P<0.01), while there was no significant difference of pulmonary parenchyma SNR (both P>0.05). The pulmonary parenchyma CNR at the level of upper aortic arch and pulmonary artery bifurcation planes were both significant different between AIR-ZTE and CAA-ZTE (both P<0.05), while there was no significant difference at pulmonary floor plane (P>0.05). Totally 16 solid nodules, 12 ground glass nodules and 9 mixed ground glass nodules were found on CAA-ZTE images, respectively, while 16, 13 and 9 nodules were detected on AIR-ZTE images, respectively. There was no significant difference of the detection rates of pulmonary nodules between AIR-ZTE and CAA-ZTE (P>0.05). CNR of ground glass nodules and solid component of mixed ground glass nodules were different AIR-ZTE and CAA-ZTE images (both P<0.05), while there was no significant difference of objective indexes of imaging quality for other pulmonary nodules (both P>0.05). The scores of AIR-ZTE images were higher than that of CAA-ZTE (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with CAA coil, image quality of ZTE obtained with AIR coil was better for displaying lung nodules.