PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S Bastianello
AU  - A Bozzao
AU  - A Paolillo
AU  - E Giugni
AU  - C Gasperini
AU  - T Koudriavtseva
AU  - E Millefiorini
AU  - M A Horsfield
AU  - C Colonnese
AU  - D Toni
AU  - M Fiorelli
AU  - C Pozzilli
AU  - L Bozzao
TI  - Fast spin-echo and fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery versus conventional spin-echo sequences for MR quantification of multiple sclerosis lesions.
DP  - 1997 Apr 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 699--704
VI  - 18
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/4/699.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/4/699.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1997 Apr 01; 18
AB  - PURPOSE To compare fast spin-echo (FSE) and fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences with conventional spin-echo (CSE) MR imaging in the quantification of the number and volume of multiple sclerosis lesions.METHODS In 30 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, we calculated the total number and volume of lesions detected with each of the three sequences using a semiautomated program.RESULTS On CSE sequences, we calculated a total of 2,583 lesions with a global volume of 836.3 cm3. With FSE sequences, we observed a 16% relative reduction in the number of lesions detected and a 25% relative reduction in global volume as compared with CSE. With fast FLAIR sequences, we detected a significantly lower number and volume of infratentorial lesions, whereas at the cortical/subcortical level the lesions were both more numerous and bulkier than on CSE sequences. Finally, we observed a higher lesion/white matter contrast, a significant reduction in time required for the quantification of lesion load, and a very low interobserver variability in favor of fast FLAIR sequences.CONCLUSION Despite its limitations in the detection of infratentorial lesions, the fast FLAIR sequence in conjunction with a semiautomated quantification program provides a reliable means to evaluate the total lesion burden in patients with MS.