Intracranial lesion enhancement with gadolinium: T1-weighted spin-echo versus three-dimensional Fourier transform gradient-echo MR imaging.
The conspicuity of lesion enhancement with gadopentetate dimeglumine was evaluated subjectively and quantitatively through calculation of contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) on T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) Fourier transform (FT) gradient-echo (GRE) and two-dimensional (2D) FT spin-echo (SE) images of the brain in 406 consecutive patients. One hundred one enhancing intracranial lesions were present in 61 patients, including intra-(n = 76) and extraaxial (n = 25) processes of neoplastic (n = 68), infectious or inflammatory (n = 13), ischemic (n = 11), or vascular (n = 9) origin. Enhancement was apparent in all lesions on 2DFT SE and 3DFT GRE images, with similar subjective conspicuity in 86.8% (87 of 101) of lesions. Quantitative C/N measurements for 2DFT SE (mean, 17.6) and 3DFT GRE (mean, 17.2) imaging were not significantly different (P = .72). These findings, along with the other advantages of 3DFT GRE imaging, indicate that 3DFT GRE examinations are likely to play a major role in the performance of contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the brain.
Mirowitz
S A
SA
Department of Radiology, Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA