The role of MR imaging with half Fourier acquired single shot turbo spin echo sequence in the diagnosis of lung lesions in comparison with multislice CT

To compare the diagnostic values of magnetic resonance imaging using Half Fourier Acquired Single Shot Turbo Spin Echo sequence and multidetector computed tomography in patients with pathologically examined pulmonary lesions. The retrospective, descriptive study was conducted at Radiology Department, Diskapi Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, and comprised records of patients with pathologically examined pulmonary lesions between May 2009 and March 2012. Patients were divided into three groups and examined by both multidedector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. During the imaging, patients were not administered any intravenous contrast medium. Electrocardiogram gating and breath holding were not performed in echo sequence. Pulmonary lesions were evaluated on the basis of their dimensions, numbers, differentiation from atelectasis and consolidation, invasion to the thoracic wall-mediastinal structures and presence of lymphadenopathies. Sensitivity of all patients was 50% (p = 0.214) and specificity of CT and MRI were 82.5% (p = 0.134) for the detectability of submilimetric nodules. For differentiation of the mass from atelectasis and consolidation, the sensitivity of computed tomography was statistically more significant compared to magnetic resonance imaging (86.6%; p = 0.035). For the invasion of the mass to the mediastinal structures and the thoracic wall, the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging was statistically more significant compared to tomography (86.6%; p = 0.035). HASTE sequence can be used to determine the invasion of the pulmonary mass to the mediastinal structures and the thoracic wall since it is more sensitive than computed tomography. It can also be used to detect submilimetric nodules. It has equal sensitivity and specificity compared to computed tomography. But computed tomography is superior for the differentiation of the mass from atelectasis and consolidation.