TY - JOUR
T1 - Echoplanar MR imaging for ultrafast detection of brain lesions
AU - Patel, M. R.
AU - Siewert, B.
AU - Klufas, R.
AU - Yousuf, N.
AU - Edelman, R. R.
AU - Warach, S.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1999/8
Y1 - 1999/8
N2 - OBJECTIVE. We retrospectively evaluated the use of echoplanar imaging for ultrafast detection of brain lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In our retrospective study, 61 patients were imaged with the following echoplanar sequences: single-shot proton density-weighted, single-shot T2-weighted, single-shot T2-weighted high-resolution, multishot proton density-weighted, and multishot T2-weighted. Lesions revealed in these patients ranged from 0.5 to 12.0 cm (mean, 3.7 cm) and were the result of tumor (n = 16), stroke (n = 21), demyelination (n = 18), and toxoplasmosis (n = 2). Four patients had scans with normal findings. Two neuroradiologists who were unaware of pertinent clinical data reviewed the images. The images were retrospectively compared with conventional spin-echo images for diagnosis, sensitivity of lesion detection, and qualitative criteria: subjective image quality, gray and white matter differentiation, lesion conspicuity, delineation of lesion borders, and artifacts. (Artifacts included those caused by motion, susceptibility, pulsation, and ghosting.) Quantitative criteria, including signal-to-noise and signal difference-to-noise measurements, were also evaluated in 40 lesions. RESULTS. Sensitivity for lesion detection was 97% for single-shot echoplanar T2-weighted MR images and 100% for multishot echoplanar T2-weighted MR images. Single-shot echoplanar proton density- weighted MR images had the highest signal-to-noise ratio (91.2 ± 19.3). Echoplanar T2-weighted MR images had the highest signal difference-to-noise (33.8 ± 22.9). Echoplanar sequences were superior to spin-echo sequences regarding motion and pulsation artifacts. Spin-echo sequences lacked susceptibility and ghosting artifacts, and were superior in lesion conspicuity and delineation of lesion borders. CONCLUSION. In this study, echoplanar sequences were as sensitive as conventional spin-echo imaging for the diagnostic assessment of lesions. Echoplanar sequences had a strikingly shorter acquisition time and substantially reduced motion and pulsation artifacts. Echoplanar sequences may be a useful diagnostic tool for use in claustrophobic and unstable patients.
AB - OBJECTIVE. We retrospectively evaluated the use of echoplanar imaging for ultrafast detection of brain lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In our retrospective study, 61 patients were imaged with the following echoplanar sequences: single-shot proton density-weighted, single-shot T2-weighted, single-shot T2-weighted high-resolution, multishot proton density-weighted, and multishot T2-weighted. Lesions revealed in these patients ranged from 0.5 to 12.0 cm (mean, 3.7 cm) and were the result of tumor (n = 16), stroke (n = 21), demyelination (n = 18), and toxoplasmosis (n = 2). Four patients had scans with normal findings. Two neuroradiologists who were unaware of pertinent clinical data reviewed the images. The images were retrospectively compared with conventional spin-echo images for diagnosis, sensitivity of lesion detection, and qualitative criteria: subjective image quality, gray and white matter differentiation, lesion conspicuity, delineation of lesion borders, and artifacts. (Artifacts included those caused by motion, susceptibility, pulsation, and ghosting.) Quantitative criteria, including signal-to-noise and signal difference-to-noise measurements, were also evaluated in 40 lesions. RESULTS. Sensitivity for lesion detection was 97% for single-shot echoplanar T2-weighted MR images and 100% for multishot echoplanar T2-weighted MR images. Single-shot echoplanar proton density- weighted MR images had the highest signal-to-noise ratio (91.2 ± 19.3). Echoplanar T2-weighted MR images had the highest signal difference-to-noise (33.8 ± 22.9). Echoplanar sequences were superior to spin-echo sequences regarding motion and pulsation artifacts. Spin-echo sequences lacked susceptibility and ghosting artifacts, and were superior in lesion conspicuity and delineation of lesion borders. CONCLUSION. In this study, echoplanar sequences were as sensitive as conventional spin-echo imaging for the diagnostic assessment of lesions. Echoplanar sequences had a strikingly shorter acquisition time and substantially reduced motion and pulsation artifacts. Echoplanar sequences may be a useful diagnostic tool for use in claustrophobic and unstable patients.
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U2 - 10.2214/ajr.173.2.10430158
DO - 10.2214/ajr.173.2.10430158
M3 - Article
C2 - 10430158
AN - SCOPUS:0032769319
SN - 0361-803X
VL - 173
SP - 479
EP - 485
JO - American Journal of Roentgenology
JF - American Journal of Roentgenology
IS - 2
ER -