Sample MR imaging protocol for suspected PHACE syndromea

SequenceFeature Evaluated
Coronal and axial T2 fat-suppressed head and neckFacial hemangioma, extent of lesion, possible hemangioma in airway
Axial DWI brainAcute ischemia
Sagittal T1 or spoiled gradient-echo head and neckMidline intracranial structures including pituitary gland, myelination
Axial ASL head and neckCerebral blood flow, hemangioma
Axial time-of-flight MRA head and neckArterial abnormalities
Coronal contrast-enhanced dynamic MRA/MRV neck, if neededArterial abnormalities, including evaluation of the aortic arch
Axial contrast-enhanced T1 fat-suppressed head and neckEnhancement pattern
Coronal contrast-enhanced T1 fat-suppressed internal auditory canalsHemangioma in the internal auditory canals
  • a Modified from Mamlouk et al13 with permission from Elsevier.