RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fast spin-echo and fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery versus conventional spin-echo sequences for MR quantification of multiple sclerosis lesions.
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 699
OP 704
VO 18
IS 4
A1 S Bastianello
A1 A Bozzao
A1 A Paolillo
A1 E Giugni
A1 C Gasperini
A1 T Koudriavtseva
A1 E Millefiorini
A1 M A Horsfield
A1 C Colonnese
A1 D Toni
A1 M Fiorelli
A1 C Pozzilli
A1 L Bozzao
YR 1997
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/4/699.abstract
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.