F. Fellner et al., TRUE PROTON DENSITY AND T2-WEIGHTED TURBO SPIN-ECHO SEQUENCES FOR ROUTINE MRI OF THE BRAIN, Neuroradiology, 36(8), 1994, pp. 591-597
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging",Neurosciences
Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of turbo spin-echo
(TSE) sequences compared to a conventional dual-echo spin-echo (SE) se
quence in routine brain MRI at 1.0 T. The following demands were made
on TSE sequences: acquisition time-reduction of at least 50% and true
proton density (PD) contrast (low-signal cerebrospinal fluid). A conve
ntional spin-echo and two single-echo TSE sequences were used in 150 p
atients, a dual-echo TSE sequence in addition in 50 patients. Demonstr
ation of most anatomical structures and disorders was equivalent with
TSE and SE sequences. Advantages of TSE were reduced flow artefacts on
T2-weighted images, better lesion contrast on PD-weighted TSE images
(especially in the dual-echo sequence) and acquisition time reduction
to about 5 min (single-echo TSE) and 3:35 min (dual-echo TSE). Disadva
ntages of TSE were: reduced contrast of iron-containing substances suc
h as haemosiderin and of areas of calcification. By virtue of the shor
ter acquisition time and diagnostic reliability dual-echo TSE proved t
he best sequence. If it is used with only one acquisition - whereby im
age quality but not diagnostic reliability is slightly decreased - acq
uisition time can be further reduced to 1:48 min. Application of a sus
ceptibility-sensitive gradient-echo sequence, such as FLASH, compensat
es for the disadvantages mentioned above.