Susceptibility Weighted With Quantitative Phase Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiation of Various Stages of Hemorrhage and Calcification in Female Pelvic Pathologies: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to assess the value of phase for characterization of female pelvic lesions with hemorrhage in various stages and to differentiate them from calcified lesions at 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS: Forty-four female patients with hemorrhagic (n = 37) or calcified (n = 7) pelvic pathology underwent conventional MRI including susceptibility-weighted imaging with phase information. Hemorrhagic lesions were grouped into acute, subacute, and chronic, and calcified lesions were detected on the basis of conventional imaging findings. Phase quantification of these hemorrhagic and calcified lesions was performed.

RESULTS: The phase values significantly differed (P < 0.001) among various stages of hemorrhage, as well as calcification (chronic hemorrhage, -65.09 ± 9.09 degrees; subacute hemorrhage, -11.41 ± 4.4 degrees; acute hemorrhage, -42.30 ± 5.20 degrees; and calcified lesions, 117.55 ± 12.93 degrees).

CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative phase imaging has the potential to differentiate various stages of hemorrhagic and calcified pathologies. This may add value to the conventional MRI in improved characterization of these entities in female pelvic pathologies.