Usefulness of optimized gadolinium-enhanced fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR imaging in revealing lesions of the brain.
AJR Am J Roentgenol
; 171(3): 803-7, 1998 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9725320
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to compare the contrast enhancement of lesions of the brain revealed by gadolinium-enhanced optimized fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR imaging with that of lesions on gadolinium-enhanced optimized T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging. SUBJECTS ANDMETHODS:
Using computer simulations, we optimized the fast FLAIR parameters (TR, TEeff, and inversion time) and the T1-weighted spin-echo parameters (TR and TE) to provide maximum difference in signal intensity between enhancing lesions of the brain and white matter. Seventy-six consecutive patients referred for single-dose gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of the brain underwent both optimized techniques, which were matched for spatial resolution, bandwidth, and number of excitations. The gadolinium-enhanced fast FLAIR and T -weighted spin-echo MR images were evaluated independently by two observers for number and size of enhancing lesions and for the degree of gray-white matter differentiation. Contrast-to-noise ratios were measured for enhancing lesions 1.0 cm or larger in diameter using 8 x 8 pixel regions of interest in the enhancing lesions and normal white matter.RESULTS:
The most revealing parameters for fast FLAIR MR imaging proved to be a TR of 1500 msec, an inversion time of 683 msec, and a TEeff of 16 msec. For T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging, the optimized parameters were a TR of 550 msec and a TE of 16 msec. In 28 patients, we saw enhancing lesions of the brain with at least one MR imaging technique. More lesions were seen on the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (n = 141) than on the fast FLAIR sequence (n = 94) (p < .03). Gray-white matter differentiation was significantly better on the fast FLAIR sequence (p < .001). Contrast-to-noise ratios of enhancing lesions were greater on the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (p < .001).CONCLUSION:
In this study, optimized gadolinium-enhanced conventional T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging proved superior to gadolinium-enhanced fast FLAIR MR imaging in revealing lesions of the brain.
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Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Encéfalo
/
Encefalopatías
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Imagen por Resonancia Magnética
/
Medios de Contraste
/
Gadolinio DTPA
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Año:
1998
Tipo del documento:
Article