Comparison of a deep learning-accelerated T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequence and its conventional counterpart for female pelvic MRI: reduced acquisition times and improved image quality

Insights into Imaging

Table 4 Qualitative image evaluations and inter-reader agreement for T2_DL and T2_S sequences

Characteristics	Reader 1			Reader 2			Reader 3			Kendall’s W
Characteristics	T2_DL	T2_S	p values	T2_DL	T2_S	p values	T2_DL	T2_S	p values	T2_DL	T2_S
Sagittal
Overall image quality	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	0.873	0.887
Artifacts	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	0.903	0.914
Boundary sharpness	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (5–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	0.801	0.771
Lesion conspicuity	5 (5–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	0.002	0.847	0.871
Axial
Overall image quality	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	0.851	0.871
Artifacts	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (5–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	0.840	0.828
Boundary sharpness	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	0.828	0.841
Lesion conspicuity	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (5–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	0.896	0.884
Coronal
Overall image quality	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	0.867	0.905
Artifacts	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	< 0.001	0.876	0.890
Boundary sharpness	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	< 0.001	0.903	0.882
Lesion conspicuity	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	0.001	5 (4–5)	4 (4–4)	0.003	5 (4–5)	4 (4–5)	0.021	0.864	0.879

T2_DL deep learning-accelerated T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequence; T2_S standard T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequence