Optimized 3D brachial plexus MR neurography using deep learning reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether 'fast,' unilateral, brachial plexus, 3D magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) acquisitions with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) provide similar image quality to longer, 'standard' scans without DLR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An IRB-approved prospective cohort of 30 subjects (13F; mean age = 50.3 ± 17.8y) underwent clinical brachial plexus 3.0 T MRN with 3D oblique-coronal STIR-T2-weighted-FSE. 'Standard' and 'fast' scans (time reduction = 23-48%, mean = 33%) were reconstructed without and with DLR. Evaluation of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and edge sharpness was performed for 4 image stacks: 'standard non-DLR,' 'standard DLR,' 'fast non-DLR,' and 'fast DLR.' Three raters qualitatively evaluated 'standard non-DLR' and 'fast DLR' for i) bulk motion (4-point scale), ii) nerve conspicuity of proximal and distal suprascapular and axillary nerves (5-point scale), and iii) nerve signal intensity, size, architecture, and presence of a mass (binary). ANOVA or Wilcoxon signed rank test compared differences. Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC2) assessed inter-rater agreement. RESULTS: Quantitative SNR and edge sharpness were superior for DLR versus non-DLR (SNR by + 4.57 to + 6.56 [p < 0.001] for 'standard' and + 4.26 to + 4.37 [p < 0.001] for 'fast;' sharpness by + 0.23 to + 0.52/pixel for 'standard' [p < 0.018] and + 0.21 to + 0.25/pixel for 'fast' [p < 0.003]) and similar between 'standard non-DLR' and 'fast DLR' (SNR: p = 0.436-1, sharpness: p = 0.067-1). Qualitatively, 'standard non-DLR' and 'fast DLR' had similar motion artifact, as well as nerve conspicuity, signal intensity, size and morphology, with high inter-rater agreement (AC2: 'standard' = 0.70-0.98, 'fast DLR' = 0.69-0.97). CONCLUSION: DLR applied to faster, 3D MRN acquisitions provides similar image quality to standard scans. A faster, DL-enabled protocol may replace currently optimized non-DL protocols.