A Comparative Study on the Diagnostic Value of Conventional Spin Echo Proton Density and Fast Spin Echo Proton Density Sequences of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Meniscal Tear

Background and purpose The magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis consensus guidelines currently mandate three sagittal non-contrast enhanced sequences of T2-weighted fast spin echo, proton density-weighted fast spin echo and short tau inversion recovery; however, these particular three sequences have not previously been compared at 3T. This study compared T2-weighted fast spin echo, proton density-weighted fast spin echo, short tau inversion recovery as well as the double inversion recovery sequence for the sagittal detection of multiple sclerosis lesions in the cervical spinal cord at 3T. Methods Nineteen multiple sclerosis patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging with 3T sagittal T2-weighted fast spin echo, proton density-weighted fast spin echo, short tau inversion recovery and double inversion recovery between November 2012 and April 2013. Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed the images, and the number of lesions detected on each sequence was recorded. Lesion conspicuity was quantitatively assessed with the lesion-to-cord-contrast ratio and lesion contrast-to-noise ratio. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed for statistical analysis. Results Proton density-weighted fast spin echo and short tau inversion recovery detected 32% more lesions compared to T2-weighted fast spin echo, and 37% more lesions compared to double inversion recovery. The lesion-to-cord-contrast ratio was highest in short tau inversion recovery, while the lesion contrast-to-noise ratio was highest for proton density-weighted fast spin echo. Conclusions This study provides the necessary evidentiary support at 3T for the magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis spinal magnetic resonance imaging protocol consensus guidelines. At 3T sagittal proton density-weighted fast spin echo and short tau inversion recovery sequences allowed improved detection of cervical spinal cord multiple sclerosis lesions, compared to T2-weighted fast spin echo and three-dimensional double inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging. Utilising T2-weighted fast spin echo alone at 3T is insufficient for lesion detection.

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Evaluation of meniscal tears: Fast spin-echo versus conventional spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging

Academic Radiology ◽

10.1016/s1076-6332(05)80166-7 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 209-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Mark W. Anderson ◽

Narasimhachari Raghavan ◽

David J. Seidenwurm ◽

Adam Greenspan ◽

Christiana Drake

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Spin Echo ◽

Fast Spin Echo ◽

Meniscal Tears ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Conventional Spin Echo ◽

Fast Spin

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Ultra high resolution nonenhanced fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging: Cost-effective screening for acoustic neuroma in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0194-5998(98)70080-4 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 119 (4) ◽

pp. 364-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Robert L. Daniels ◽

Clough Shelton ◽

H. Ric Harnsberger

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Acoustic Neuroma ◽

Spin Echo ◽

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽

Fast Spin Echo ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Fast Spin

The financial burden for the evaluation of patients for acoustic neuroma in an otolaryngology practice is substantial. Patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss represent a portion of that population seen with unilateral, asymmetric auditory symptoms who require investigation for acoustic neuroma. For these patients, gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic gold standard. Auditory brain stem response testing has been used in the past as a screening test for acoustic neuroma, but its apparent sensitivity has fallen as the ability to image smaller acoustic neuromas has improved. Fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging techniques without gadolinium have been shown to be as effective in the detection of acoustic neuroma as contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Limited nonenhanced fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging now provides an inexpensive alternative for high-resolution imaging of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle. Fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging can now be done at a cost approximating auditory brain stem response testing while providing the anatomic information of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Cost analysis was done in the cases of 58 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss by comparing the costs for routine workup and screening of acoustic neuroma with the cost of fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging with the use of screening protocols based on literature review. The potential cost savings of evaluating patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss with fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging for acoustic neuroma was substantial, with a 54% reduction in screening costs. In an era of medical economic scrutiny, fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging has become the most cost-effective method to screen suspected cases of acoustic tumors at our institution by improving existing technology while reducing the cost of providing that technology and eliminating charges for impedance audiometry, auditory brain stem response testing, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

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