Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced T2 FLAIR and 3D T1 Black-Blood Fast Spin-Echo for Detection of Leptomeningeal Metastases
10.13104/imri.2018.22.2.86
- Author:
Yae Won PARK
1
;
Sung Jun AHN
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. aahng77@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Leptomeningeal metastases;
Black-blood;
Contrast-enhanced T2 FLAIR
- MeSH:
Gadolinium;
Humans;
Membranes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2018;22(2):86-93
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Imaging plays a significant role in diagnosing leptomeningeal metastases. However, the most appropriate sequence for the detection of leptomeningeal metastases has yet to be determined. This study compares the efficacies of contrast-enhanced T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and contrast-enhanced 3D T1 black-blood fast spin echo (FSE) imaging for the detection of leptomeningeal metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tube phantoms containing varying concentrations of gadobutrol solution were scanned using T2 FLAIR and 3D T1 black-blood FSE. Additionally, 30 patients with leptomeningeal metastases were retrospectively evaluated to compare conspicuous lesions and the extent of leptomeningeal metastases detected by T2 FLAIR and 3D T1 black-blood FSE. RESULTS: The signal intensities of low-concentration gadobutrol solutions (< 0.5 mmol/L) on T2 FLAIR images were higher than in 3D T1 black-blood FSE. The T2 FLAIR sequences exhibited significantly greater visual conspicuity scores than the 3D T1 black-blood sequence in leptomeningeal metastases of the pial membrane of cistern (P = 0.014). T2 FLAIR images exhibited a greater or equal extent (96.7%) of leptomeningeal metastases than 3D T1 black-blood FSE images. CONCLUSION: Because of its high sensitivity even at low gadolinium concentrations, contrast-enhanced T2 FLAIR images delineated leptomeningeal metastases in a wider territory than 3D T1 black-blood FSE.