Fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging: clinical application in screening for acoustic neuroma.
The advent of magnetic resonance imaging has greatly improved our ability to diagnose acoustic tumors, but it is a relatively expensive imaging modality. In the present climate of medical cost restraints, methods that reduce costs but maintain quality are extremely desirable. We report a new magnetic resonance imaging technique that uses fast spin echo without gadolinium. It provides ultrahigh-resolution images of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle. The sensitivity of this technique for the detection of acoustic tumors is equivalent to conventional gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, but the global cost is comparable with that of brain stem audiometry. In our practice fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging has replaced brain stem audiometry as a screening modality to evaluate most acoustic tumor suspects. Also, the intricate detail of the internal auditory canal anatomy provided by this technique is useful in planning surgical removal of acoustic tumors.
Shelton
C
C
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA.
Harnsberger
H R
HR
Allen
R
R
King
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000191:economics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000473:pathology; D003363:Cost Control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D005682:Gadolinium