PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T.-W. Baek
AU  - Y. Kang
AU  - H.-J. Lee
TI  - Improved Lesion Conspicuity with Contrast-Enhanced 3D T1 TSE Black-Blood Imaging in Cranial Neuritis: A Comparative Study of Contrast-Enhanced 3D T1 TSE, 3D T1 Fast-Spoiled Gradient Echo, and 3D T2 FLAIR
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A7025
DP  - 2021 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 945--950
VI  - 42
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/42/5/945.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/42/5/945.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2021 May 01; 42
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Contrast-enhanced 3D-turbo spin-echo (TSE) black-blood sequence has gained attention, as it suppresses signals from vessels and provides an increased contrast-noise ratio. The purpose was to investigate which among the contrast-enhanced 3D T1 TSE, 3D T1 fast-spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR), and 3D T2 FLAIR sequences can better detect cranial nerve contrast enhancement.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with cranial neuritis based on clinical findings (n = 20) and control participants (n = 20) were retrospectively included in this study. All patients underwent 3T MR imaging with contrast-enhanced 3D T1 TSE, 3D T1 FSPGR, and 3D T2 FLAIR. Experienced and inexperienced reviewers independently evaluated the 3 sequences to compare their diagnostic performance and time required to reach the diagnosis. Additionally, tube phantoms containing varying concentrations of gadobutrol solution were scanned using the 3 sequences.RESULTS: For the inexperienced reader, the 3D T1 TSE sequence showed significantly higher sensitivity (80% versus 50%, P = .049; 80% versus 55%; P = .040), specificity (100% versus 65%, P = .004; 100% versus 60%; P = .001), and accuracy (90% versus 57.5%, P = .001; 90% versus 57.5%, P = .001) than the 3D T1 FSPGR and 3D T2 FLAIR sequences in patients with cranial neuritis. For the experienced reader, the 3D T1-based sequences showed significantly higher sensitivity than the 3D T2 FLAIR sequence (85% versus 30%, P < .001; 3D T1 TSE versus 3D T2 FLAIR, 85% versus 30%, P < .001; 3D T1 FSPGR versus 3D T2 FLAIR). For both readers, the 3D T1 TSE sequence showed the highest area under the curve (inexperienced reader; 0.91, experienced reader; 0.87), and time to diagnosis was significantly shorter with 3D T1 TSE than with 3D T1 FSPGR.CONCLUSIONS: The 3D T1 TSE sequence may be clinically useful in evaluating abnormal cranial nerve enhancement, especially for inexperienced readers.FSPGRfast-spoiled gradient echoCEcontrast-enhancedGREgradient-echoCNRcontrast to noise ratioROCreceiver operating characteristicAUCarea under the ROC curveTSEturbo spin-echo