Deep Learning Super-Resolution Reconstruction for Fast and Motion-Robust T2-weighted Prostate MRI

Background Deep learning (DL) reconstructions can enhance image quality while decreasing MRI acquisition time. However, DL reconstruction methods combined with compressed sensing for prostate MRI have not been well studied. Purpose To use an industry-developed DL algorithm to reconstruct low-resolution T2-weighted turbo spin-echo (TSE) prostate MRI scans and compare these with standard sequences. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, participants with suspected prostate cancer underwent prostate MRI with a Cartesian standard-resolution T2-weighted TSE sequence (T2_C) and non-Cartesian standard-resolution T2-weighted TSE sequence (T2_NC) between August and November 2022. Additionally, a low-resolution Cartesian DL-reconstructed T2-weighted TSE sequence (T2_DL) with compressed sensing DL denoising and resolution upscaling reconstruction was acquired. Image sharpness was assessed qualitatively by two readers using a five-point Likert scale (from 1 = nondiagnostic to 5 = excellent) and quantitatively by calculating edge rise distance. The Friedman test and one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni and Tukey tests, respectively, were used for group comparisons. Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score agreement between sequences was compared by using Cohen κ. Results This study included 109 male participants (mean age, 68 years ± 8 [SD]). Acquisition time of T2_DL was 36% and 29% lower compared with that of T2_C and T2_NC (mean duration, 164 seconds ± 20 vs 257 seconds ± 32 and 230 seconds ± 28; P < .001 for both). T2_DL showed improved image sharpness compared with standard sequences using both qualitative (median score, 5 [IQR, 4-5] vs 4 [IQR, 3-4] for T2_C and 4 [IQR, 3-4] for T2_NC; P < .001 for both) and quantitative (mean edge rise distance, 0.75 mm ± 0.39 vs 1.15 mm ± 0.68 for T2_C and 0.98 mm ± 0.65 for T2_NC; P < .001 and P = .01) methods. PI-RADS score agreement between T2_NC and T2_DL was excellent (κ range, 0.92-0.94 [95% CI: 0.87, 0.98]). Conclusion DL reconstruction of low-resolution T2-weighted TSE sequences enabled accelerated acquisition times and improved image quality compared with standard acquisitions while showing excellent agreement with conventional sequences for PI-RADS ratings. Clinical trial registration no. NCT05820113 © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Turkbey in this issue.