3-DIMENSIONAL FAST SPIN-ECHO T1-WEIGHTED IMAGING OF THE PEDIATRIC SPINE

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of using a three-dimensional ( 3D) fast SE (FSE) pulse sequence to acquire T1-weighted (T1W) images o f the pediatric spine. Materials and Methods: The 3D FSE T1W images we re acquired in nine pediatric patients undergoing spine MRI for differ ent clinical indications. The 3D FSE images were compared with our sta ndard 2D SE T1W images. Results: Image contrast was comparable between the two sequences, The 3D FSE sequence produced contiguous thin secti ons that allowed multiplanar reformations not possible with the 2D SE sequence. Conclusion: 3D T1W spine imaging with conventional SE-like c ontrast is feasible with 3D FSE.