Difference in Enhancement Between Spin Echo and 3-Dimensional Fast Spoiled Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Metastasis at 3-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

On 3-T magnetic resonance imaging, the enhancement of 3DFSPGR images was less than that of the SE images under the same conditions, but not to a fatal degree, and thin slice 3DFSPGR imaging is therefore considered to be useful for detecting small lesions, when given a high dose of contrast agent and a suitable scanning delay time.

MR Diagnosis of Facial Neuritis: Diagnostic Performance of Contrast-Enhanced 3D-FLAIR Technique Compared with Contrast-Enhanced 3D-T1-Fast-Field Echo with Fat Suppression

“…The order of pulse sequences can affect the amount of contrast accumulated in the inflamed nerve over time, which, in turn, can result in the particular pulse sequence erroneously appearing to cause more contrast enhancement than that performed earlier in the scan session. However, according to the dynamic study of the 3D FSPGR sequence by Furutani et al 28 the 3D FSPGR sequence reaches peak enhancement after 60 minutes, which persists for 6 minutes. We obtained the 3D-T1-FFE followed by the 3D-FLAIR with a time delay of 3 and 7 minutes, respectively.…”

Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted Sampling Perfection with Application-Optimized Contrasts by Using Different Flip Angle Evolutions in Detection of Small Brain Metastasis at 3T MR Imaging: Comparison with Magnetization-Prepared Rapid Acquisition of Gradient Echo Imaging

“…7 Other studies reported significantly higher contrast between enhancing lesions and normal brain parenchyma on 2D SE than on other sequences, including IRϪfast SE, 2D GE, MPRAGE, and fast 3D SPGR at 3T. 8,19 Komada et al 17 reported that the CNR of brain metastasis on SPACE was significantly higher than that for MPRAGE at 3T. Consistent with them, we found a greater contrast rate and CNR on SPACE, which resulted in the higher contrast enhancement effect on SE than on GE at 3T.…”

“…5,6 Furthermore, because the contrast enhancement effect at 3T is higher than that at 1.5T, several studies have suggested that 3D contrast-enhanced GE images provide higher detectability of small brain metastases than 2D contrast-enhanced SE T1-weighted images when a 3T system is used. 7,8 Although high SAR at 3T makes it difficult to obtain T1-weighted 3D images with an SE-type sequence, recent technologic innovations, including parallel imaging, k-space trajectory, and variable flip angles, have solved the problem. Sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolutions (SPACE) is one such 3D SE-type sequence available at 3T.…”

“…In our experience with 3T MR images, several metastatic foci were clearly delineated on contrast-enhanced SPACE images, but not on other sequences, including contrast-enhanced 3D GE T1-weighted (magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of GE [MPRAGE]) images, which were reported to be more helpful than contrastenhanced 2D SE images to detect small brain metastases at 3T (Fig 1). 7,8 In view of the contrast-enhancement effect, we formed a hypothesis that contrast-enhanced SPACE imaging would be more useful than contrast-enhanced MPRAGE in detecting brain metastasis. That was why we compared the conspicuity of brain metastases and the diagnostic performance between contrast-enhanced SPACE and MPRAGE.…”

3D Turbo Spin-Echo Sequence with Motion-Sensitized Driven-Equilibrium Preparation for Detection of Brain Metastases on 3T MR Imaging

“…6,7 In these images, a high signal intensity of enhancing blood vessels is a disturbing factor because it can be mistaken for enhancing metastases. The suppression of blood vessel signals may simplify radiologists' reading processes and, in turn, improve their performance.…”