To evaluate the efficacy of a gradient-echo sequence (3DFT-CISS) in th
e diagnosis of acoustic neuromas, two independent observers twice revi
ewed the images of the temporal bones of 83 patients. Contrast-enhance
d T1-weighted spin echo images were used as the reference, showing 18
acoustic neuromas, including 5 purely intracanalicular and one intrala
byrinthine tumours. High sensitivity (89-94 %), specificity (94-97 %)
and accuracy (94-95 %) were found. Intraobserver (kappa 0.93-1) and in
terobserver (kappa 0.83-0.84) reproducibility were very good. The smal
lest intracanalicular tumour was overlooked twice by both observers; t
he intralabyrinthine tumour once by one observer. All tumours were det
ected with a less stringent decision criterion, at the expense of lowe
r specificity.