title: The applied research of MRI with ASSET-EPI-FLAIR combined with 3D TOF MRA sequences in the assessment of patients with acute cerebral infarction.
abstract: Background To extend the time window for thrombolysis, reducing the time for diagnosis and detection of acute cerebral infarction seems to be warranted. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of implementing an array spatial sensitivity technique (ASSET)-echo-planar imaging (EPI)-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (AE-FLAIR) sequence into an acute cerebral infarction magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation protocol, and to assess the diagnostic value of AE-FLAIR combined with three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA). Material and Methods A total of 100 patients (68 men, 32 women; age range, 44-82 years) with acute cerebral infarction, including 50 consecutive uncooperative and 50 cooperative patients, were evaluated with T1-weighted (T1W) imaging, T2-weighted (T2W) imaging, FLAIR, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), 3D TOF, EPI-FLAIR, and AE-FLAIR. Conventional FLAIR, EPI-FLAIR, and AE-FLAIR were assessed by two observers independently for image quality. The optimized group (AE-FLAIR and 3D TOF) and the control group (T1W imaging, T2W imaging, conventional FLAIR, DWI, and 3D TOF) were compared for evaluation time and diagnostic accuracy. Results One hundred and twenty-five lesions were detected and images having adequate diagnostic image quality were in 73% of conventional FLAIR, 62% of EPI-FLAIR, and 89% of AE-FLAIR. The detection time was 12 ± 1 min with 76% accuracy and 4 ± 0.5 min with 100% accuracy in the control and the optimized groups, respectively. Inter-observer agreements of κ = 0.78 and κ = 0.81 were for the optimized group and control group, respectively. Conclusion With reduced acquisition time and better image quality, AE-FLAIR combined with 3D TOF may be used as a rapid diagnosis tool in patients with acute cerebral infarction, especially in uncooperative patients.
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Zhichao
authors: Z
authors: Lin
authors: 2 Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Zexiong
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: 3 Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Qiu
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Wanyoug
authors: W
authors: Yang
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Mingxia
authors: M
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Acute cerebral infarction; fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR); image quality; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA)