No abstract

MR images of the neck were prospectively studied in 19 patients with hyperparathyroidism. Fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence was performed in addition to TIand T2-weighted spin echo (SE) sequences. FLASH images were obtained with 320/12/20" (TR/ TE/flip angle) using presaturation technique. TE of 12 ms was chosen to eliminate high signal of fat tissue. In the evaluation of detectability, a combination of TI-weighted SE and FLASH images (TIWI+FLASH) was compared with a combination of TIand T2-weighted SE images (TI WI +T2WI). MR imaging correctly depicted 20 of 30 abnormal glands on both TIWI+FLASH and TlWI +T2WI. FLASH imaging effectively eliminated high signal of fat tissue. Nineteen abnormal glands demonstrated higher signal than surrounding tissues on FLASH images, whereas 12 glands were high-intense on TZweighted SE images. We conclude that FLASH imaging provides improved tissue contrasf and anatomic delineation and, thus, may replace TZweighted SE imaging in the neck.