A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall in the Differentiation of Hemorrhagic and Fatty Lesions Using Short Inversion Time Inversion Recovery: a Case Report.
10.13104/imri.2016.20.3.181
- Author:
Jee Hye KIM
1
;
Woo Young KANG
;
Bum Sang CHO
;
Kyung Sik YI
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea. quartet0@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Epidural hematoma;
Spine;
Fat;
Short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR)
- MeSH:
Diagnosis;
Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal;
Hemorrhage;
Magnetic Fields;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Relaxation;
Spine
- From:Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2016;20(3):181-184
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) is widely used for spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because the pulse sequence of STIR is insensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneity and can be used to scan a large field of view. In this case report, we present a case of spinal epidural hematoma with unexpected signal decrease on a STIR image. The MRI showed an epidural mass that appeared with high signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. However, a signal decrease was encountered on the STIR image. This nonspecific decrease of signal in tissue with a short T1 relaxation time that is similar to that of fat (i.e., hemorrhage) could lead to a diagnostic pitfall; one could falsely diagnose this decrease of signal as fat instead of hemorrhage. Awareness of the nonselective signal suppression achieved with STIR pulse sequences may avert an erroneous diagnosis in image interpretation.
