Usefulness of T1-weighted image with fast inversion recovery technique in intracranial lesions - Comparison with T1-weighted spin echo image

To evaluate the usefulness of T1-weighted images using the fast inversion r ecovery (TIFIR) technique as compared with routine T1-weighted spin echo (T ISE) images in various intracranial lesions. Routine spin echo and TIFIR im ages were performed in 15 consecutive patients with 18 lesions, cerebral in farction in five, astrocytoma in four, vascular lesion in three, encephalom alacia and hemorrhage in each two, arachnoid cyst and meningioma in each on e. T1FIR images were performed with 1.5-T Sigma [repetition time (TR)/echo time (TE)/inversion time (TI) was 2000/34/800 in 14, 4000/34/1200 in four l esions] and qualitatively compared with the T1SE images in signal intensity , lesion detectability, determination of lesion extent and conspicuity, con trast between lesion and background. Additionally pray-to-white matter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-to-white matter contrast were evaluated. The sign al intensity of the lesions was similar on both T1FIR and T1SE images in al l cases. The lesion detectability was similar on both sequences in 15 lesio ns, and the determination of the lesion extent was definitely higher in 16 lesions on the T1FIR images. Lesion conspicuity was superior in 11, similar in 5, and inferior in 2 patients on the T1FIR images. And also, contrast o f lesion-to-background, gray-to-white matter, and CSF-to-white matter was s uperior on the T1FIR images. The T1FIR technique improved the determination of lesion extent and lesion conspicuity and was qualitatively superior for image contrast as compared with TISE, but it takes more lime than T1SE. Th e clinical application of T1FIR images depends on whether the superior aspe ct of the T1FIR images outweighs the disadvantage of the longer time requir ed for this technique. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.