Contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging for leptomeningeal disease in children.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an MR imaging method that improves detection of leptomeningeal disease when compared with the current reference standard, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging.


METHODS
We investigated the cases of 10 children who were at high risk of intracranial leptomeningeal disease (Sturge-Weber syndrome and medulloblastoma). The cases of Sturge-Weber syndrome were investigated by using one MR imaging examination, and the cases of medulloblastoma were investigated by using four MR imaging examinations performed over 18 months. In all cases, contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images were acquired in addition to the routine sequences. The parameters of the FLAIR sequence were chosen to maximize the T1 component of the signal intensity, to maximize detection of leptomeningeal enhancement. We made subjective and objective assessments of the presence and extent of leptomeningeal disease as shown on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images and contrast-enhanced FLAIR images.


RESULTS
In three of the four cases of Sturge-Weber syndrome, the T1 and FLAIR sequences showed comparable extent of leptomeningeal enhancement. For one child, FLAIR images showed unexpected bilateral disease and more extensive leptomeningeal enhancement on the clinically suspected side. In four of six cases of medulloblastoma, no leptomeningeal enhancement was shown on any examinations during the 18-month period. In two cases, FLAIR images showed more extensive leptomeningeal enhancement when compared with T1-weighted images.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced FLAIR imaging seems to improve detection of leptomeningeal disease when compared with routine contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging. This seems to be partly because of suppression of signal intensity from normal vascular structures on the surface of the brain by FLAIR, which allows easier visualization of abnormal leptomeninges. We think that these findings can be extrapolated to the investigation of leptomeningeal disease of all causes and at all ages.
Griffiths
Paul D
PD
Unit of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, England.
Coley
Stuart C
SC
Romanowski
Charles A J
CA
Hodgson
Tim
T
Wilkinson
Iain D
ID
D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008578:Meninges / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015588:Observer Variation; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013341:Sturge-Weber Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*