MR Imaging of the Spine at 3.0T with T2-Weighted IDEAL Fast Recovery Fast Spin-Echo Technique.
- Author:
Ai Jun REN
1
;
Yong GUO
;
Shu Ping TIAN
;
Li Jing SHI
;
Min Hua HUANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study
- Keywords: Spine; Magnetic resonance imaging; Fat suppression; Water-fat separation; Fast recovery fast spin-echo
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods; Male; Middle Aged; Signal-To-Noise Ratio; Spinal Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology; Statistics, Nonparametric
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2012;13(1):44-52
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and the least-squares estimation (IDEAL) method with a fat-saturated T2-weighted (T2W) fast recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) imaging of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Images acquired at 3.0 Tesla (T) in 35 patients with different spine lesions using fat-saturated T2W FRFSE imaging were compared with T2W IDEAL FRFSE images. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-efficiencies measurements were made in the vertebral bodies and spinal cord in the mid-sagittal plane or nearest to the mid-sagittal plane. Images were scored with the consensus of two experienced radiologists on a four-point grading scale for fat suppression and overall image quality. Statistical analysis of SNR-efficiency, fat suppression and image quality scores was performed with a paired Student's t test and Wilcoxon's signed rank test. RESULTS: Signal-to-noise ratio-efficiency for both vertebral body and spinal cord was higher with T2W IDEAL FRFSE imaging (p < 0.05) than with T2W FRFSE imaging. T2W IDEAL FRFSE demonstrated superior fat suppression (p < 0.01) and image quality (p < 0.01) compared to fat-saturated T2W FRFSE. CONCLUSION: As compared with fat-saturated T2W FRFSE, IDEAL can provide a higher image quality, higher SNR-efficiency, and consistent, robust and uniform fat suppression. T2W IDEAL FRFSE is a promising technique for MR imaging of the spine at 3.0T.
