USE OF FLUID-ATTENUATED INVERSION-RECOVERY (FLAIR) PULSE SEQUENCES INPERINATAL HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fluid-atte nuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) techniques in patients with perinata l hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. 13 patients with a history of peri natal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (age range 1 month to 3.6 years ) underwent T-1 and T-2 weighted spin echo and FLAIR imaging with a 1. 5 T superconducting unit, FLAIR images were qualitatively evaluated in comparison with T-1 and T-2 weighted images by three experienced radi ologists. Quantitative analysis (contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio) was also performed. FLAIR images were preferred to T-1 and T-2 weight ed images in the demonstration of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), cystic PVL and subcortical lesions near the brain surface. On T-1 and T-2 weighted images, almost all lesions were demonstrated as hypointen se or hyperintense areas, respectively, However, FLAIR images could di fferentiate cystic lesions by their signal intensities. FLAIR images w ere not diagnostic in two cases with PVL. In conclusion FLAIR sequence s provide useful information in patients with perinatal hypoxic-ischae mic encephalopathy.