Equilibrium phase images of the liver using a contrast-enhancement boost instead of the portal vein phase

Table 3 Comparison by qualitative image analysis, mean ± SD

Characteristics	PVP	EP	CE-boost (EP)	aP value	bP value
Vascular visualization
Portal vein	4 ± 0.00	3.97 ± 0.15	4 ± 0.00	NA	0.16
Segmental branch of the portal vein	3.97 ± 0.15	3.12 ± 0.55	3.88 ± 0.42	0.14	< 0.01
Lesion conspicuity	3.29 ± 0.60	3.21 ± 0.69	3.63 ± 0.51	< 0.01	< 0.01
Image noise	3.85 ± 0.34	3.85 ± 0.34	3.14 ± 0.44	< 0.01	< 0.01

^aP value of the portal vein phase vs contrast enhancement boost of the equilibrium phase.

^bP value of the equilibrium phase vs contrast enhancement boost of the equilibrium phase.

PVP: Portal vein phase; EP: Equilibrium phase; CE-boost (EP): Contrast enhancement boost of the equilibrium phase; NA: Not available.