Magnetic resonance imaging of focal cortical dysplasia: Comparison of 3D and 2D fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences at 3T.
OBJECTIVE
Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a frequent finding in drug resistant epilepsy. The aim of our study was to evaluate an isotropic high-resolution 3-dimensional Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence (3D FLAIR) at 3T in comparison to standard 2D FLAIR in the diagnosis of FCD.


METHODS
In a prospective study, 19 epilepsy patients with the MR diagnosis of FCD were examined with a sagittal 3D FLAIR sequence with modulated refocusing flip angle (slice thickness 1.10mm) and a 2D FLAIR in the coronal (thk. 3mm) and axial planes (thk. 2mm). Manually placed regions of interest were used for quantitative analysis. Qualitative image analysis was performed by two neuroradiologists in consensus.


RESULTS
Contrast between gray and white matter (p ≤ 0.02), the lesion (p ≤ 0.031) or hyperintense extension to the ventricle (p ≤ 0.021) and white matter was significantly higher in 2D than in 3D FLAIR sequences. In the visual analysis there was no difference between 2D and 3D sequences.


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional 2D FLAIR sequences yield a higher image contrast compared to the employed 3D FLAIR sequence in patients with FCDs. Potential advantages of 3D imaging using surface rendering or automated techniques for lesion detection have to be further elucidated.
Department of Radiology/Neuroradiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: Henriette.Tschampa@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
Henriette J
HJ
Tschampa
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Electronic address: Horst.Urbach@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Horst
H
Urbach
Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: michael.malter@gmx.de.
Michael
M
Malter
Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: Rainer.Surges@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
Rainer
R
Surges
Department of Radiology/Neuroradiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: Susanne.Greschus@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
Susanne
S
Greschus
Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: Juergen.Gieseke@philips.com.
Jürgen
J
Gieseke
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
3D FLAIR; Epilepsy; Focal cortical dysplasia; High field MRI; Refocusing flip angle