TY - JOUR T1 - High-Spatial-Resolution MR Cisternography of the Cerebellopontine Angle in 90 Seconds with a Zero-Fill Interpolated Fast Recovery 3D Fast Asymmetric Spin-Echo Sequence JF - American Journal of Neuroradiology JO - Am. J. Neuroradiol. SP - 1407 LP - 1412 VL - 23 IS - 8 AU - Tatsuya Nakamura AU - Shinji Naganawa AU - Tokiko Koshikawa AU - Hiroshi Fukatsu AU - Yasuo Sakurai AU - Ikuo Aoki AU - Ayako Ninomiya AU - Takeo Ishigaki Y1 - 2002/09/01 UR - http://www.ajnr.org/content/23/8/1407.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although the 12-minute 3D fast asymmetric spin-echo (FASE) protocol for imaging the inner ear has been satisfactory, reducing imaging time to minimize patient discomfort and maximize system throughput is desirable. We therefore evaluated the performance of a zero-fill interpolated (ZIP) fast recovery 3D FASE sequence in screening for cerebellopontine (CP) angle lesions in 90 seconds.METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients known or suspected to have CP angle lesions underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T with use of bilateral quadrature phased-array coils designed for examination of the CP angle. Conventional 3D FASE images (4000/240/1 [TR/TE/NEX]) were obtained in 11 minutes 48 seconds with a field of view (FOV) of 16 cm, matrix of 512 × 512 × 40, section thickness of 0.8 mm, and echo train length of 80. Then, ZIP fast recovery 3D FASE images (2000/240/1) were obtained in 90 seconds by using the same FOV. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted 3D spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) images were obtained as the reference standard. Three radiologists evaluated the images independently. Conventional 3D FASE and ZIP fast recovery 3D FASE images were reviewed at separate sessions.RESULTS: On 3D SPGR images, 10 tumors were detected in 10 of the 30 patients. All lesions were depicted with both 3D FASE protocols. There were no false-positive results with either 3D FASE protocol. Both protocols showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for all three reviewers.CONCLUSION: High-spatial-resolution MR cisternography with the ZIP fast recovery 3D FASE protocol in 90 seconds results in a substantial reduction (by a factor of about eight) in the time required for screening for CP angle lesions compared with the previously reported conventional 3D FASE protocol, while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity. ER -