MR appearances of intracranial tumors with a low tesla (0.064 T) permanent MR system.
10.3348/jkrs.1993.29.5.869
- Author:
Hee Jin KIM
;
Sun Kyung LIM
;
Dae Ik KWON
;
Byung Young KIM
;
Jong Gil LEE
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Brain Neoplasms;
Cost-Benefit Analysis;
Diagnosis;
Edema;
Electricity;
Gadolinium DTPA;
Glioblastoma;
Hemangioblastoma;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Meningioma;
Relaxation;
Water
- From:Journal of the Korean Radiological Society
1993;29(5):869-875
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
In this report we describe twenty-two cases of intracranial tumors studied with an MR imager operating at a field strength of 0.064 T for evaluation of the clinical utility of low tesla MRI. The comfirmed diagnoses were meningioma(9 cases), astrocytoma(4 cases), glioblastoma multiforme(1 case), craniopharyngioma(2 cases), intracranial metastasis(1 case). pituitary microadenoma (1 case), hemangioblastoma (1 case), and trigerminal neurilemmoma(1 case). Meningiomas appeared as well-marginated, homogenous signal intensity masses(67%) in most cases. Most meningiomas showed iso-signal intensity(78%) on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. After Gd-DTPA enhancement, diffuse homogeneous contrast enhancement(75%) was well see. The multiple hemorrhagic foci within the glioblastoma multiforme were identified, which shoed high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and low signal intensity on T2-weighted images(intracellular methemoglobin), or high signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images(extracellular methemoglobin). One case of cerebellar hemangioblastoma was a well-defined cystic mass with contrast enhanced mural nodule but no identification of characteristic signal void vessels. The remianing tumors showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Gd-DTPA enhancement was helpful in separating the lesion from the surrounding edema or normal tissue, but had limited diagnostic value in characterizing the nature of the mass. The advantages of low tesla MRI are as follows on requirement of cooling water or electricity, open design, shorter T1 relaxation time compared with high tesla unit that increases the difference of T1-relaxation time between tissues, ease of installation, and cost effectiveness. In conclusion, the low tesla MRI is useful for the detection and evaluation of the brain tumors.
