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Title: Initial clinical experience in MR imaging of the brain with a fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery pulse sequence

Journal Article · · Radiology

To evaluate fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) technique for imaging brain abnormalities. A fast FLAIR sequence was developed that provided 36 5-mm contiguous sections in 5 minutes 8 seconds. Resulting images were compared with dual-echo T2-weighted spin-echo images of 41 consecutive patients with brain abnormalities. Contrast and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) (for contrast between the lesion and background and between the lesion and cerebrospinal fluid) for fast FLAIR exceeded the corresponding values for T2-weighted spin-echo images for all but the second-echo lesion-to-background C/N. Fast FLAIR provided equivalent or greater overall lesion conspicuity and enabled greater lesion detection in 98% and 100%, respectively, of the evaluations. Fast FLAIR images more often had image artifact, but this did not interfere with image interpretation in a significantly (P {<=} .05) greater number of evaluations. Fast FLAIR provides images that are superior to proton-density- and T2-weighted images for many image quality criteria. 29 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
79368
Report Number(s):
CONF-941107-; ISSN 0033-8419; TRN: 95:002703-0001
Journal Information:
Radiology, Vol. 193, Issue 1; Conference: 80. scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, IL (United States), 27 Nov - 2 Dec 1994; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English