PURPOSE: To increase the sensitivity of 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) to low concentration gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast medium, we optimized sequence parameters on a phantom and evaluated the optimized sequence in patients suspicious for endolymphatic hydrops. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All scans were performed on a 3-tesla magnetic resonance (MR) unit using a 32-channel head coil. We optimized sequence parameters using a phantom filled with diluted Gd and compared the optimized protocol with 3D-FLAIR using conventional turbo spin echo sequence (3D-FLAIR-CONV). Nine patients underwent scanning using the newly optimized sequence and 3D-FLAIR-CONV 4 hours after double-dose administration of intravenous Gd. We subjectively scored separation of endo- and perilymph space and measured contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between endo- and perilymph. RESULTS: The optimized sequence in the phantom study consisted of: repetition time, 9000 ms; echo time, 540 ms; inversion time, 2400 ms; low constant readout flip angle, 120 degrees in the later part of the echo train. Image contrast became heavily T(2)-weighted (hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR). In patients, we recognized endolymphatic space for both the cochlea and vestibule significantly better by hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR than 3D-FLAIR-CONV (P<0.01). The mean CNR of the new method was also better than that of 3D-FLAIR-CONV (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The newly optimized hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR was more sensitive than the previous method to low concentration of Gd. Visualization of the endolymphatic space by double-dose administration of intravenous Gd would be more reliable using hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR.
PURPOSE: To increase the sensitivity of 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) to low concentration gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast medium, we optimized sequence parameters on a phantom and evaluated the optimized sequence in patients suspicious for endolymphatic hydrops. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All scans were performed on a 3-tesla magnetic resonance (MR) unit using a 32-channel head coil. We optimized sequence parameters using a phantom filled with diluted Gd and compared the optimized protocol with 3D-FLAIR using conventional turbo spin echo sequence (3D-FLAIR-CONV). Nine patients underwent scanning using the newly optimized sequence and 3D-FLAIR-CONV 4 hours after double-dose administration of intravenous Gd. We subjectively scored separation of endo- and perilymph space and measured contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between endo- and perilymph. RESULTS: The optimized sequence in the phantom study consisted of: repetition time, 9000 ms; echo time, 540 ms; inversion time, 2400 ms; low constant readout flip angle, 120 degrees in the later part of the echo train. Image contrast became heavily T(2)-weighted (hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR). In patients, we recognized endolymphatic space for both the cochlea and vestibule significantly better by hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR than 3D-FLAIR-CONV (P<0.01). The mean CNR of the new method was also better than that of 3D-FLAIR-CONV (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The newly optimized hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR was more sensitive than the previous method to low concentration of Gd. Visualization of the endolymphatic space by double-dose administration of intravenous Gd would be more reliable using hT(2)W-3D-FLAIR.
Authors: S Nahmani; A Vaussy; C Hautefort; J-P Guichard; A Guillonet; E Houdart; A Attyé; M Eliezer Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2020-03-19 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: M Yamazaki; S Naganawa; M Tagaya; H Kawai; M Ikeda; M Sone; M Teranishi; H Suzuki; T Nakashima Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2011-12-15 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: M N Pakdaman; G Ishiyama; A Ishiyama; K A Peng; H J Kim; W B Pope; A R Sepahdari Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2016-06-02 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: G Conte; S Casale; L Caschera; F M Lo Russo; C Paolella; C Cinnante; F Di Berardino; D Zanetti; D Stocchetti; E Scola; L Bassi; F Triulzi Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2021-01-28 Impact factor: 3.825