SHORT TAU INVERSION-RECOVERY FAT-SUPPRESS ION IN T-2 TURBO SPIN-ECHO MRI OF MALIGNANT-TUMORS OF THE ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNX

Background: T-1-weighted sequences before and after the application of contrast medium and T-2-weighted sequences are used for magnetic reso nance imaging of malignomas of the oral cavity and the oropharynx. The authors studied the utility of short tau inversion recovery fat suppr ession (STIR) in T-2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences (TSE), Methods : Twenty patients with malignomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx we re examined on a 1,0 Tesla magnetom using T-2-weighted TSE-sequences w ith and without STIR as well as T-1-weighted spin echo sequences befor e and after the application of contrast medium. Results: STIR was succ essfull in all patients. STIR worsened the signal-noise-ratio signific antly, but improved tumor delineation compared to T-2-TSE without fat suppression in 75% according to three different investigators. Conclus ion: The STIR technique is beneficial for the progress in diagnostic i maging of cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx.