[FLAIR MR sequence in the diagnosis and follow-up of low-grade astrocytomas].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sensitivity of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence in the diagnosis and follow-up of the patients with low-grade astrocytomas compared with T2-weighted (T2W) sequence.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with biopsy-confirmed low-grade astrocytoma (age range, 15-66 years) underwent T1-weighted (T1W), T2W and FLAIR imaging with a superconducting unit 1.0 T. FLAIR images were qualitatively evaluated by comparison with T2W images by the three experienced neuroradiologists. To evaluate the diagnostic value of FLAIR, the neuroradiologists individually assessed the possibilities of the detection of lesions, as well as the possibilities of the differentiation of tumor from the surrounding edema on FLAIR vs. T2W images. Every examiner ranked FLAIR sequence vs. T2W in three degrees: worse, equal and better.


RESULTS
The comparison of FLAIR with T2W spin-echo (SE) images with regard to the detection of the lesions showed that 82.8% of FLAIR studies were superior, 17.2% were of similar diagnostic value, and none was inferior to the T2W images. The comparison of images with regard to the differentiation of tumor boundaries vs. surrounding edema showed that 92.5% of FLAIR studies were superior, 7.5% were of similar diagnostic value, and none was inferior to the T2W images.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results were similar to the previous studies' results concerning the advantages of FLAIR sequence in the diagnosis of low grade astrocytomas over T2W sequence. FLAIR was better at showing different tumor components, and at distinguishing CSF from the cystic component, and the postoperative cavity, compared with T2W images. Our conclusion was that FLAIR could be routinely used in the evaluation and follow-up of low-grade astrocytomas.
Stosić-Opinćal
Tatjana
T
Klinicki centar Srbije, Centar za magnetnu rezonancu, Beograd, Srbija i Crna Gora. tanja.stosic@EUkcs.ac.yu
Gavrilov
Mihail
M
Stosić
Srboljub
S
Lavrnić
Slobodan
S
Perić
Vesna
V
Grujicić
Danica
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged