MR imaging of spinal cord in multiple sclerosis: comparison between turbo-spin echo and turbo-IRM

To compare T2-weighted turbo spin-echo (turboSE) and turbo inversion recove ry magnitude (turboIRM) sequences in the detection of multiple sclerosis of the spinal cord Methods: 28 patients with clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis and signs of cervical cord involvement were examined on a 1.5 tesla MR system, Sagit tal T2-weighted turboSE sequences were followed by sagittal turboIRM sequen ces. 24 patients also underwent a cranial study. Results: Using turboIRM sequence, all the patients showed at least one spin al cord plaque with a total of 91 plaques. Using turboSE sequence, 61 lesio ns were identified in 25 patients, Spinal plaques were seen best on turboIR M sequences with a higher contrast between the lesion and the normal spinal cord. In 10 patients with cord plaques in both sequences, the cranial stud y was normal or non conclusive. Conclusions: The turboIRM sequences detect more cord lesions and with a bet ter contrast than the turboSE sequence. This results confirm those describe d in other studies and demonstrate the inadequacy of the fast spin echo seq uences. Assessment of spinal plaques is particularly important when MR find ings of the brain are negative or non conclusive.