PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - VanDyke, Carolyn
AU  - Ross, Jeffrey S.
AU  - Tkach, Jean
AU  - Masaryk, Thomas J.
AU  - Modic, Michael T.
TI  - Gradient-Echo MR Imaging of the Cervical Spine: Evaluation of Extradural Disease
DP  - 1989 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 627--632
VI  - 10
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/10/3/627.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/10/3/627.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1989 May 01; 10
AB  - A prospective study was undertaken on 204 consecutive patients comparing low flip angle gradient-echo and T1-weighted spin-echo techniques in the MR evaluation of cervical extradural disease. Four patient groups were studied with varying gradient-echo TEs (6 or 13 msec) and flip angles (10° or 60°). Images were evaluated independently for contrast behavior and anatomy, then directly compared for conspicuity of lesions. The FLASH sequences (especially with a 10° flip angle) produced better conspicuity of disease in half the imaging time. T1-weighted spin-echo sequences were more sensitive to marrow changes and intradural disease. The short TE sequence (6 msec) did not produce any diagnostic advantage over the longer TE sequence (13 msec). A fast and sensitive MR examination for cervical extradural disease combines a sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo acquisition with sagittal and axial FLASH 10° sequences.