Evaluation of 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo MR image quality using artificial intelligence image reconstruction techniques in the pediatric brain.

Purpose: To assess image quality and diagnostic confidence of 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) MRI using artificial intelligence (AI) reconstruction.

Materials and methods: This prospective, IRB-approved study enrolled 50 pediatric patients (mean age = 11.8 ± 3.1 years) undergoing clinical brain MRI. In addition to standard of care (SOC) compressed SENSE (CS = 2.5), 3D T1-weighted SPGR images were obtained with higher CS acceleration factors (5 and 8) to evaluate the ability of AI reconstruction to improve image quality and reduce scan time. Images were reviewed independently on dedicated research PACS workstations by two neuroradiologists. Quantitative analysis of signal intensities to calculate apparent grey and white matter signal to noise (aSNR) and grey-white matter apparent contrast to noise ratios (aCNR) was performed.

Results: AI improved overall image quality compared to standard CS reconstruction in 35% (35/100) of evaluations in CS = 2.5 (average scan time = 221 ± 6.9 s), 100% (46/46) of CS = 5 (average scan time = 113.3 ± 4.6 s) and 94% (47/50) of CS = 8 (average scan time = 74.1 ± 0.01 s). Quantitative analysis revealed significantly higher grey matter aSNR, white matter aSNR and grey-white matter aCNR with AI reconstruction compared to standard reconstruction for CS 5 and 8 (all p-values < 0.001), however not for CS 2.5.

Conclusions: AI reconstruction improved overall image quality and gray-white matter qualitative and quantitative aSNR and aCNR in highly accelerated (CS = 5 and 8) 3D T1W SPGR images in the majority of pediatric patients.