Optimization of gray/white matter contrast with fast inversion recovery for myelin suppression: a comparison of fast spin-echo and echo-planar MR imaging sequences.
We compared two MR imaging sequences, fast inversion recovery for myelin suppression (FIRMS) and echo-planar FIRMS (EP-FIRMS), for depicting gray/white matter contrast. In 18 patients, the frequency bandwidth (BW) was optimized for each sequence; in nine patients, the BW was held constant. In the BW-optimized group, the mean contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) was three times higher with the FIRMS sequence. In the BW-constant group, the mean C/N was 27% higher with the EP-FIRMS sequence; however, geometric distortion degraded the EP-FIRMS images excessively. For optimal gray/white contrast, FIRMS appears to be the superior pulse sequence.
Wolansky
L J
LJ
Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07103, USA.
Finden
S G
SG
Chen
J
J
Hanna
R
R
Holodny
A I
AI
Ahmad
I
I
Liu
W C
WC
Contractor
S
S
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests