Ultrafast brain MRI at 3 T for suspected acute ischemic stroke: interchangeability of the ultrafast and standard protocols
In brief
Ultrafast brain MRI cuts scan time 62% with comparable stroke detection
In 100 patients with suspected acute stroke, the ultrafast 3 T MRI protocol took 1 minute 43 seconds instead of 4 minutes 29 seconds, while matching the standard protocol for detecting lesions, affected vascular territories and relevant secondary findings. Image quality scores were slightly higher, but the work-in-progress diffusion imaging algorithm still needs further validation.
- Journal
- Japanese journal of radiology (Q2)
- Published
- 31 October 2026
- Study design
- Cohort / observational study
- Evidence level
- Level 3, Low (CEBM 3b)
- Authors
- Kumi Ozaki, Shota Ishida, Shoya Haseyama, Eri Sugioka, Yukichi Tanahashi, Satoshi Goshima
- PMID
- 42965773
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11604-026-02103-5
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Medical Physics (top studies of the week, 1 November 2026): Clinical MRI protocol comparison measures acquisition time and image quality
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the interchangeability of the super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR)-based ultrafast protocol with the standard protocol for acute ischemic stroke detection at 3 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 100 patients (mean age, 66.1 ± 16.2 years; 65 men) with suspected acute ischemic stroke underwent both the standard and ultrafast protocols (diffusion-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T2*-weighted imaging). All images were reconstructed using SR-DLR; the ultrafast protocol employed accelerated acquisition with a reduced scan time. Two radiologists independently assessed both protocols for acute ischemic lesion detection, vascular territory involvement, and clinically relevant secondary findings. Interchangeability was evaluated using the individual equivalence index (IEI), with a prespecified ± 0.05 equivalence margin. RESULTS: Acute ischemic stroke was confirmed in 30 patients (30%). The ultrafast protocol reduced the mean total acquisition time by 61.7% (1 min 43 s vs. 4 min 29 s; P < 0.001). Interchangeability was demonstrated for patient-level acute ischemic lesion detection (IEI, 0.010 [90% confidence interval (CI): -0.006, 0.026]), vascular territory-level detection (IEIs, - 0.007 to 0.015), and clinically relevant secondary findings (IEI, 0.005 [90% CI: -0.025, 0.035]). Qualitative image quality scores were slightly but consistently higher for the ultrafast protocol across all four assessment items (all P ≤ 0.002). No significant differences were observed in ischemic lesion size or relative signal characteristics between protocols. CONCLUSION: The ultrafast protocol was interchangeable with the standard protocol for detecting acute ischemic stroke, with reduced scan time and comparable or marginally improved image quality; however, this work-in-progress diffusion-weighted imaging algorithm warrants further validation.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.