[MRI of the internal auditory meatus. Is injection of gadolinium indispensable?].
OBJECTIVE
To compare prospectively high resolution fast spin echo T2 weighted (FSE-T2W) images and gadolinium-enhanced spin echo T1 weighted images for diagnosis of pathology of the internal auditory meatus (IAM).


METHODS
114 patients underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T with the following protocol: axial images; whole brain FSE-T2W sequence (256 matrix); 2 sequences focused on IAM with high resolution FSE-T2W acquisitions (512 matrix, 3 mm sections with 1.5 mm overlapping); pre and postcontrast T1 weighted sequences focused on IAM. Examinations were viewed by senior neuroradiologists.


RESULTS
31 lesions were detected in the IAM by high resolution FSE-T2W images; 25 lesions were found in the IAM by postcontrast T1 weighted images, i.e. 6 false-positive results and none false-negative. On the basis of 228 studied IAMs the sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of this high resolution FSE-T2W sequence were 100%, 97% and 100% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium enhanced sequence is not indispensable if high resolution FSE-T2W images are normal. Gadolinium-enhanced sequence remains essential in others equivocal cases (difficult diagnosis or abnormal IAM).
Soulié
D
D
Service d'Imagerie Médicale, HIA du Val-de-Grâce, Paris.
Cordoliani
Y S
YS
Derosier
C
C
Jeanbourquin
D
D
Vignaud
J
J
Cosnard
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D005682:Gadolinium
IRM du méat auditif interne. L'injection de gadolinium est-elle indispensable?