PURPOSE: We undertook this study to evaluate breath-hold Half-Fourier Acquisition Single-shot TSE(HASTE) andsingle-shot echo planar MR imaging for the detection of focal hepatic masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a 1.5Tsuperconductive system, HASTE, vascular dephasing inversion recovery spin echo EP(VDIR-SE-EP), inversion recoveryspin echo EP(IR-SE-EP), and free induction decay EP(FID-EP) were performed in 31 patients with 34 focal livermasses. Images were compared on the basis of detection sensitivity of focal hepatic masses, liver signal-to-noiseratio(S/N), lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio(C/N), and image quality. Images analysis was performed by tworadiologists, who reached a consensus. RESULT: The detection sensitivity of focal hepatic masses with HASTE was94.1%, with VDIR-SE-EP and IR-SE-EP, this was 91.2%, and with FID-EP, the figure was 88.2%. Liver S/Ns werehighest on HASTE images, which were significantly better(p<.05) than the three types of EP image. Overalllesion-to-liver C/Ns were highest on VDIR-SE-EP and IR-SE-EP(p<.05). Lesion-to-liver C/Ns were highest onVDIR-SE-EP and IR-SE-EP for solid lesions, but for non-solid lesions, were highest on HASTE (p<.05). Compared withHASTE images, EP images were poor. CONCLUSION: For the detection of focal hepatic masses, the sensitivity ofVDIR-SE-EP and IR-SE-EP was similar to that of HASTE. When using the former, acquisition time was substantiallyreduced but image quality was poor.