title: Detection of hemorrhagic hypointense foci in the brain on susceptibility-weighted imaging clinical and phantom studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the sensitivity of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for depicting hemorrhagic hypointense foci of the brain in comparison with gradient-recalled echo (GRE)- and GRE-type single-shot echo-planar imaging (GREI, GRE-EPI), and to assess the basic characteristics of the susceptibility effect by using a phantom.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively examined 16 patients (9 males, 7 females, aged 10-74 years, mean 43 years) with hypointense foci using SWI, GREI, and GRE-EPI at a 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) unit. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), sensitivity to small hypointese foci, and artifacts were evaluated. To assess the basic characteristics of SWI, we performed a phantom study using different concentrations of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CNR of lesions was significantly greater for SWI than the other images (P < .0001). SWI detected the greatest number of small hypointense foci, even in the near-skull-base and infratentorial regions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses in our clinical and phantom studies demonstrated that the degree of artifacts was similar with SWI and GREI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWI was best for detecting small hemorrhagic hypointense foci. Artifacts of SWI were similar to GREI.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Masuma
authors: M
authors: Akter
authors: Toshinori
authors: T
authors: Hirai
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Hiai
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Kitajima
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Komi
authors: Ryuji
authors: R
authors: Murakami
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Fukuoka
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sasao
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Toya
authors: E Mark
authors: EM
authors: Haacke
authors: Mutsumasa
authors: M
authors: Takahashi
authors: Teruyuki
authors: T
authors: Hirano
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Kai
authors: Motohiro
authors: M
authors: Morioka
authors: Kiyotoshi
authors: K
authors: Hamasaki
authors: Jun-Ichi
authors: J
authors: Kuratsu
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity