Fast spin echo vs conventional spin echo in cervical spine imaging

Abstract

The major attraction of fast-spin-echo (FSE) imaging is reduced acquisition time; however, careful review of the literature reveals many weaknesses: phase-encoded blurring, truncation artefact, bright fat signal, reduced magnetic susceptibility and increased motion artefact. Our aim was a prospective, blinded comparison of FSE and conventional spin echo (CSE) in the cervical spine. Both sequences were performed in 43 patients (19 males and 24 females; mean age 45 years, range 15-66 years). Twenty-eight patients were studied at 1.5 T and 15 at 0.5 T. Typical sequence parameters were: at 1.5 T, TR/TE 2000/90 CSE and 3000/120 FSE, and at 0.5 T, 2200/80 CSE and 2800/120 FSE. Time saved on the FSE was used to increase the matrix and the number of acquisitions. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the images for pathology, artefacts, disc signal intensity, thecal sac compression and image quality. Ten patients had cord lesions; 2 (20 %) were missed on CSE. In 4 of 10 patients with moderate/severe thecal sac compression, the degree of stenosis was apparently exaggerated on CSE. The mean degree of confidence for the CSE sequences was 1.8 and for the FSE 1.1, where 1 is optimal. For cervical spine imaging, FSE should be preferred to CSE.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Management of Acute Spinal Cord Injury

“…Use of the GRE sequence is debated, as it is very sensitive to motion, especially with breathing. It might miss smaller amount of blood or hemosiderin (Gillams et al, 1997;Katz et al, 1989).…”

Opposed phase imaging in lumbar disc disease: An option providing faster image acquisition times

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“…The lower scores of the neural elements of the lumbar spine were frequently seen in elderly patients having severe spondylosis, unfortunately, these patients could benefit the most from the faster scans. GRE sequences are known to cause higher magnetic susceptibility, which becomes evident during motion as well as at osteophytes-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or osteophytes-soft tissue interfaces in spondylotic patients (3,20). This increased the magnetic susceptibility sensitivity of GRE results in image degradation, especially blurring of the neural foramina when spondylotic changes are present, and as a result, overestimation of both canal and foraminal stenosis occur.…”

MR imaging: acronyms and clinical applications

“…The main concern is the detection of small low-signal-intensity hemosiderin-containing lesions [73], since the sensitivity to magnetic suscep- Fig. Turbo spin echo is not only applied routinely to the brain [74] but also to the spine [75,76], to the pediatric brain and spine, and to the inner ear [77±80], as a 2D as well as 3D version. GRASE, gradient and spin echoes.…”