Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR)sequences are sensitive for detecting lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). More rapid fast-FLAIR imaging of the brain can be achieved by the concomitant use of half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE-FLAIR) and echo-planar imaging (EPI-FLAIR). The present study was performed in a large cohort of subjects to assess and compare the number and volume of brain lesions detected by the fast-FLAIR, HASTE-FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences in patients with MS. METHODS: Fast. FLAIR, HASTE- FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences were obtained from 46 consecutive MS patients. Lesions seen on each type of sequence were counted and classified by consensus by two observers. Lesion volumes were measured using a semiautomated segmentation technique based on local thresholding. RESULTS: The quality of the fast-FLAIR images was significantly better than that of HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-F LAIR images. Fast-FLAIR revealed significantly more lesions and higher lesion volumes than did HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR. A similar number of large lesions was detected by the three sequences, but HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR showed significantly fewer small and intermediate lesions than did fast-FLAIR. The number of lesions seen on HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR images was similar. CONCLUSION: HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR sequences revealed as many large MS lesions as fast-FLAIR. Because their acquisition times are only a fraction of that needed for fast-FLAIR sequences, they may be useful for making a rapid diagnosis of MS in uncooperative patients. Their reduced ability to detect smaller lesions indicates that they should not be used as a routine approach to imaging patients with MS.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1931-1938 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Journal of Neuroradiology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
Cite this
A comparison of MR imaging with fast-FLAIR, HASTE-FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences in the assessment of patients with multiple sclerosis. / Filippi, Massimo; Rocca, Maria A.; Wiessmann, Martin; Mennea, Silvia; Cercignani, Mara; Yousry, Tarek A.; Sormani, Maria P.; Comi, Giancarlo.
In: American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol. 20, No. 10, 1999, p. 1931-1938.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparison of MR imaging with fast-FLAIR, HASTE-FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences in the assessment of patients with multiple sclerosis
AU - Filippi, Massimo
AU - Rocca, Maria A.
AU - Wiessmann, Martin
AU - Mennea, Silvia
AU - Cercignani, Mara
AU - Yousry, Tarek A.
AU - Sormani, Maria P.
AU - Comi, Giancarlo
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR)sequences are sensitive for detecting lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). More rapid fast-FLAIR imaging of the brain can be achieved by the concomitant use of half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE-FLAIR) and echo-planar imaging (EPI-FLAIR). The present study was performed in a large cohort of subjects to assess and compare the number and volume of brain lesions detected by the fast-FLAIR, HASTE-FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences in patients with MS. METHODS: Fast. FLAIR, HASTE- FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences were obtained from 46 consecutive MS patients. Lesions seen on each type of sequence were counted and classified by consensus by two observers. Lesion volumes were measured using a semiautomated segmentation technique based on local thresholding. RESULTS: The quality of the fast-FLAIR images was significantly better than that of HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-F LAIR images. Fast-FLAIR revealed significantly more lesions and higher lesion volumes than did HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR. A similar number of large lesions was detected by the three sequences, but HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR showed significantly fewer small and intermediate lesions than did fast-FLAIR. The number of lesions seen on HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR images was similar. CONCLUSION: HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR sequences revealed as many large MS lesions as fast-FLAIR. Because their acquisition times are only a fraction of that needed for fast-FLAIR sequences, they may be useful for making a rapid diagnosis of MS in uncooperative patients. Their reduced ability to detect smaller lesions indicates that they should not be used as a routine approach to imaging patients with MS.
AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR)sequences are sensitive for detecting lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). More rapid fast-FLAIR imaging of the brain can be achieved by the concomitant use of half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE-FLAIR) and echo-planar imaging (EPI-FLAIR). The present study was performed in a large cohort of subjects to assess and compare the number and volume of brain lesions detected by the fast-FLAIR, HASTE-FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences in patients with MS. METHODS: Fast. FLAIR, HASTE- FLAIR, and EPI-FLAIR sequences were obtained from 46 consecutive MS patients. Lesions seen on each type of sequence were counted and classified by consensus by two observers. Lesion volumes were measured using a semiautomated segmentation technique based on local thresholding. RESULTS: The quality of the fast-FLAIR images was significantly better than that of HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-F LAIR images. Fast-FLAIR revealed significantly more lesions and higher lesion volumes than did HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR. A similar number of large lesions was detected by the three sequences, but HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR showed significantly fewer small and intermediate lesions than did fast-FLAIR. The number of lesions seen on HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR images was similar. CONCLUSION: HASTE-FLAIR and EPI-FLAIR sequences revealed as many large MS lesions as fast-FLAIR. Because their acquisition times are only a fraction of that needed for fast-FLAIR sequences, they may be useful for making a rapid diagnosis of MS in uncooperative patients. Their reduced ability to detect smaller lesions indicates that they should not be used as a routine approach to imaging patients with MS.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 10588121
AN - SCOPUS:0032692446
VL - 20
SP - 1931
EP - 1938
JO - American Journal of Neuroradiology
JF - American Journal of Neuroradiology
SN - 0195-6108
IS - 10
ER -