title: MR imaging of the spine at 3.0T with T2-weighted IDEAL fast recovery fast spin-echo technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and the least-squares estimation (IDEAL) method with a fat-saturated T2-weighted (T2W) fast recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) imaging of the spine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images acquired at 3.0 Tesla (T) in 35 patients with different spine lesions using fat-saturated T2W FRFSE imaging were compared with T2W IDEAL FRFSE images. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-efficiencies measurements were made in the vertebral bodies and spinal cord in the mid-sagittal plane or nearest to the mid-sagittal plane. Images were scored with the consensus of two experienced radiologists on a four-point grading scale for fat suppression and overall image quality. Statistical analysis of SNR-efficiency, fat suppression and image quality scores was performed with a paired Student's t test and Wilcoxon's signed rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Signal-to-noise ratio-efficiency for both vertebral body and spinal cord was higher with T2W IDEAL FRFSE imaging (p < 0.05) than with T2W FRFSE imaging. T2W IDEAL FRFSE demonstrated superior fat suppression (p < 0.01) and image quality (p < 0.01) compared to fat-saturated T2W FRFSE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As compared with fat-saturated T2W FRFSE, IDEAL can provide a higher image quality, higher SNR-efficiency, and consistent, robust and uniform fat suppression. T2W IDEAL FRFSE is a promising technique for MR imaging of the spine at 3.0T.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100048, People's [corrected] Republic of China. nrren@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ai-Jun
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shu-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Li-Jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Min-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric