Valutazione comparativa delle sequenze fast Spin-echo e Spin-echo T2-dipendenti nella dimostrazione delle lesioni demielinizzanti encefaliche in corso di sclerosi multipla

We compared T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and conventional spin-echo (CSE) T2-weighted imaging in the detection of brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS). 20 patients with clinically definite MS underwent brain imaging with both FSE and CSE T2-weighted imaging. There was no significant difference in total number of lesions detected on FSE vs CSE (1354 vs 1378). Slightly more periventricular and subcortical lesions were detected using CSE than FSE, whereas more posterior cranial fossa lesions were detected by FSE. There was no statistically significant difference in the signal intensity (SI) ratio of MS lesions to that of surrounding normal white matter on FSE vs CSE, however the SI ratio of MS lesions was lower on FSE T2-weighted images (FSE ? 1.87 ± 0.39 vs CSE = 2.09 ± 0.36). Considerable time savings can accrue when substituting FSE for CSE sequences in T2-weighted imaging, and this is a compelling reason to employ such sequence in clinical practice. Our results suggest that although CSE sequences are required to confirm the diagnosis of brain involvement of MS lesions, T2-weighted FSE sequences can replace CSE sequences in long term monitoring especially when patient's movements preclude useful investigation and when optional scanning planes are required.

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Comparison of Single-Echo T2-weighted Fast Spin-Echo and Conventional Spin-Echo MR Sequences

Rivista di Neuroradiologia ◽

10.1177/197140099801100406 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 471-476

Author(s):

G. Sparacia ◽

T. Angileri ◽

A. Banco ◽

R. Miraglia ◽

N. Nicastro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spin Echo ◽

Fast Spin Echo ◽

Rank Test ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Signed Rank Test ◽

The Difference ◽

Student’S T ◽

Periventricular Lesions ◽

Conventional Spin Echo ◽

Fast Spin

We compared single-echo T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) magnetic resonance imaging and conventional spin-echo (CSE) T2-weighted imaging in the detection of brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS). 16 patients with clinically definite MS underwent brain imaging at 0.5 T with T2-weighted single-echo fast spin-echo (FSE) and conventional spin-echo (CSE) sequences. Image analysis was performed by three of the investigators who worked together to reduce interobserver variability. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test to assess the difference in the contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratio of MS lesions between CSE and FSE sequences. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate the difference in the number of lesions between the two sequences. There was no significant difference in the overall total number of lesions detected on FSE vs CSE (964 vs 1009, P >.05). However significantly (P = .02) more posterior fossa lesions were detected using FSE than CSE, whereas significantly (P = .002) more periventricular lesions were detected using CSE than FSE. The difference in the number of lesions in the other sites was not significant (P > .05). There was no significant difference in the overall total C/N ratio of MS lesions between FSE and CSE sequences (11.7 ± 3.9 vs 12.6 ± 4). Considerable time savings can be made when substituting FSE for CSE sequences in T2-weighted imaging, and this is a compelling reason to employ such sequences in clinical practice. Our results suggest that for single-echo T2-weighted imaging, FSE can replace CSE in long term monitoring especially when patient movement prevents a useful investigation and when optional scanning planes are required.

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