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. 2025 Aug 7:126:110581.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2025.110581. Online ahead of print.

Optimizing contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI: A comparative study of deep learning and standard VIBE techniques

Alexander Herold  1 , Nathaniel D Mercaldo  2 , Mark A Anderson  2 , Amirkasra Mojtahed  2 , Aoife Kilcoyne  2 , Wei-Ching Lo  3 , Robert M Sellers  3 , Bryan Clifford  3 , Marcel D Nickel  4 , Nabih Nakrour  2 , Susie Y Huang  2 , Leo L Tsai  2 , Onofrio A Catalano  2 , Mukesh G Harisinghani  5
Affiliations

Optimizing contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI: A comparative study of deep learning and standard VIBE techniques

Alexander Herold et al. Clin Imaging. .

Abstract

Objective: To validate a deep learning (DL) reconstruction technique for faster post-contrast enhanced coronal Volume Interpolated Breath-hold Examination (VIBE) sequences and assess its image quality compared to conventionally acquired coronal VIBE sequences.

Methods: This prospective study included 151 patients undergoing clinically indicated upper abdominal MRI acquired on 3 T scanners. Two coronal T1 fat-suppressed VIBE sequences were acquired: a DL-reconstructed sequence (VIBEDL) and a standard sequence (VIBESD). Three radiologists independently evaluated six image quality parameters: overall image quality, perceived signal-to-noise ratio, severity of artifacts, liver edge sharpness, liver vessel sharpness, and lesion conspicuity, using a 4-point Likert scale. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using Gwet's AC2. Ordinal mixed-effects regression models were used to compare VIBEDL and VIBESD.

Results: Acquisition times were 10.2 s for VIBEDL compared to 22.3 s for VIBESD. VIBEDL demonstrated superior overall image quality (OR 1.95, 95 % CI: 1.44-2.65, p < 0.001), reduced image noise (OR 3.02, 95 % CI: 2.26-4.05, p < 0.001), enhanced liver edge sharpness (OR 3.68, 95 % CI: 2.63-5.15, p < 0.001), improved liver vessel sharpness (OR 4.43, 95 % CI: 3.13-6.27, p < 0.001), and better lesion conspicuity (OR 9.03, 95 % CI: 6.34-12.85, p < 0.001) compared to VIBESD. However, VIBEDL showed increased severity of peripheral artifacts (OR 0.13, p < 0.001). VIBEDL detected 137/138 (99.3 %) focal liver lesions, while VIBESD detected 131/138 (94.9 %). Inter-reader agreement ranged from good to very good for both sequences.

Conclusion: The DL-reconstructed VIBE sequence significantly outperformed the standard breath-hold VIBE in image quality and lesion detection, while reducing acquisition time. This technique shows promise for enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI.

Keywords: 3D Gradient Echo; Deep-learning image reconstruction; Liver; Magnetic resonance imaging; VIBE.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Wei-Ching Lo, Robert M. Sellers, Bryan Clifford are employees at Siemens Medical Solutions. Marcel D. Nickel is employee at Siemens Healthineers. Susie Y. Huang is a consultant for Siemens Healthineers. The remaining authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence.

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