Validation of Deep Learning Volume Interpolated Breath-hold Exam (VIBE) versus Standard VIBE for Detecting Internal Auditory Canal Lesions.

Motivation: MRI is vital for evaluating intracranial pathologies, but standard VIBE can be limited by artifacts and lower soft tissue contrast. Recent DL-based reconstructions offer potential for improved imaging quality and reduced scan times. Goal(s): To determine if DL-VIBE is non-inferior to standard VIBE in diagnostic quality. Approach: A prospective study with 62 patients undergoing IAC MRI. Radiologists assessed DL-VIBE and ST-VIBE sequences using a 5-point scale across multiple diagnostic categories for qualitative comparison and quantitative comparison. Results: DL-VIBE was non-inferior in key image quality, with high interrater agreement for enhancing lesions and comparable SNR, CNR while providing a 15% reduction in scanned time. Impact: DL-VIBE supports efficient clinical workflows and reliable diagnostics compared with standard VIBE, encouraging wider adoption of DL-based MRI protocols.