title: Rapid MR imaging of the pediatric brain using the fast spin-echo technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate diagnostic reliability and to establish optimal scanning techniques of a recently developed Fast Spin-echo MR pulse sequence that allows rapid proton density-weighted and T2-weighted imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared lesion conspicuity and signal intensity measurements on Fast Spin-echo and conventional spin-echo sequences in 81 patients ranging from 1 week to 25 years in age on a 1.5-T MR unit. A total of 28 Fast Spin-echo dual-echo images (14 slice locations) were obtained in 2:08 minutes with a 256 x 128 matrix or in 3:12 minutes with a 256 x 192 matrix at a TR of 2000 msec and two excitations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesion conspicuity and characterization on Fast Spin-echo images compared favorably with conventional spin-echo images in our series when pseudo-TEs of 15 and 90 msec were employed for proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images, respectively. Fast Spin-echo images yielded diagnostic information in four nonsedated patients whose conventional spin-echo images were either degraded by motion or unobtainable. Fat signal remained bright on T2-weighted Fast Spin-echo images. Magnetic-susceptibility effects were slightly reduced with Fast Spin-echo but did not pose any diagnostic problem in our series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostically reliable rapid dual-echo brain images can be obtained with Fast Spin-echo sequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mantello
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Mulkern
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Melki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008961:Models, Structural; D013997:Time Factors