Diffusion Kurtosis MR Imaging versus Conventional Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Distinguishing Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Benign Hepatic Nodules

Table 1

Acquisition parameters of the MRI protocol.

Sequence	Imaging direction	Category	TR (ms)	TE (ms)	FOV (mm)	Matrix	FA (°)	Bandwidth	Slice thickness (mm)
T1WI in-phase/out-phase	Axial	FLASH	200	2.2/3.7	328 × 350	192 × 256	65	930/977	6
T1WI FS	Axial	FLASH	235	2.2	328 × 350	240 × 320	70	822	6
Contrast-enhanced
T1WI	Axial	VIBE	3.3	1.2	328 × 350	128 × 256	13	501	2
T2WI	Axial	FSE	2000	95.0	328 × 350	204 × 256	150	781	6
T2WI FS	Axial	FSE	2000	95.0	328 × 350	204 × 256	150	781	6
DKI	Axial	EPI	4500	66	380 × 380	128 × 128	90	1954	6
HBP T1WI	Axial	VIBE	3.3	1.2	328 × 350	154 × 256	35	501	2

MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; TR, repetition time; TE, echo time; FOV, field of view; T1WI, T1-weighted imaging; T2WI, T2-weighted imaging; FS, fat saturation; DKI, diffusion kurtosis imaging; HBP, hepatobiliary phase; FA, flip angle; FLASH, fast low-angle shot; VIBE, volume interpolated breath-hold examination; HASTE, half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo; EPI, echo planar imaging; FSE, fast spin echo.