Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of multiple sclerosis plaques imaged with two-dimensional and three-dimensional Fourier transform techniques at low and mid field strengths.
A total of 58 multiple sclerosis lesions from 16 patients were used to characterize the performance of a low field system for the detection of edematous (e.g., water-elevating) brain lesions.  Contrast, signal-to-noise, and their product (signal difference to noise) were measured for two-dimensional and three-dimensional Fourier transform techniques at low field strength (640 G) and compared to two-dimensional sequences at mid field strength (3,500 G).  The results showed numerically that low-field strength magnetic resonance imaging can reliably detect multiple sclerosis lesions, and, by extension, other water-elevating lesions, although with lower confidence levels.
UCSF-Radiologic Imaging Laboratory, South San Francisco, CA 94080.
P A
PA
Rothschild
D M
DM
Kramer
M
M
Schulz
L
L
Kaufman
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology