MR TOMOGRAPHY WITH FAST-SPIN-ECHO SEQUENCES - RESULTS IN THE ENT REGION

The use of T2-weighted spin-echo sequences is mandatory for identifyin g tumours in the ENT region and for differential diagnosis of patholog ical findings. A highly promising alternative to time-consuming conven tional SE sequences is now available in the fast-spin-echo sequences ( FSE). FSE was compared with the conventional SE (CSE) basing on 100 as sessments of examinations of 20 patients. Results: Conventional SE = T R/TE = 1800/90 ms with one average (NEX), FSE = TR/TE = 3200/120 ms wi th 4 averages (NEX). Measurement time CSE 6:59 min, FSE 3:12 min. Anal ysis was performed in analogy to on ROC analysis by 5 radiologists as a blind study. The anatomic differentiation and contrast performance w ere compared as well as the differentiation and definition of lesion a nd lymphatic node and a subjective overall assessment. Differentiation of pathological findings was the same with both sequences. FSE was su perior to CSE in the visualisation of normal tissue, lymph nodes and a lso in the subjective overall assessment. The following criteria were employed in the subjective overall valuation: sum total of impressions gathered from contrast behaviour or performance, susceptibility to ar tifacts, and signal-to-noise ratio. Due to the definitely improved par ameters of image quality and the markedly reduced scanning time - whic h is reduced to 50% - FSE will replace the conventional spin-echo sequ ence in routine diagnostics.