颅内柔脑膜转移瘤：低场MRI FLAIR序列与T1WI增强扫描对比分析

目的:评估低场MR液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)序列诊断颅内柔脑膜转移瘤的价值.材料和方法:回顾性分析30例颅内柔脑膜转移瘤的FLAIR序列平扫与T1WI常规剂量增强扫描的表现.结果:T1WI增强扫描检出柔脑膜转移瘤128个,而FLAIR检出117个,T1WI增强扫描检出病灶较FLAIR序列敏感(P<0.05);T1WI增强扫描明确所有病灶边界,而FLAIR序列对所有病灶的边界显示不清.结论:对于颅内柔脑膜转移瘤的低场MR诊断,T1WI增强扫描优于FLAIR序列.     

增强FLAIR成像在诊断软脑膜转移中的价值及临床意义

目的 探讨增强FLAIR在软脑膜转移诊断中的价值.方法 收集有明确原发肿瘤病史、经临床和实验室检查证实的软脑膜转移癌23例,其中7例仅行T1WI增强,16例同时行T1WI和FLAIR增强.对2组病例的MR诊断准确率,以及两序列对病灶的显示情况进行回顾性对照分析.结果 (1)单纯T1WI增强组病例中2例漏诊,1例提示性诊断;同时行T1WI及FLAIR增强组16例诊断均与临床最终诊断相符.(2)后组病例中11例显示细线样强化及7例显示小结节样强化在增强FLAIR上更明显,但粗线样强化两序列上显示相似;4例在增强FLAIR上显示病变范围更广;在相同病变部位上,增强FLAIR强化程度高于增强T1WI.结论 增强FLAIR在软脑膜转移的诊断中具有重要价值.     

对比T2FLAIR序列与增强T1WI序列在诊断脑转移瘤过程中的诊断价值

目的：比较增强T1WI及增强T2FLAIR两种序列对脑转移瘤的诊断价值。方法：回顾分析本院2008年9月～2010年3月34例经临床和影像检查确诊为脑转移瘤的患者资料,所有病例均行常规MRI平扫及SET1WI和T2FLAIR增强扫描,比较两种序列上转移瘤的数目、大小和部位以及转移瘤的强化显著性、病变强化区的边界等,并分析两者间偏差的原因。结果：34个病例,MRI平扫共检出129个病灶,增强T1WI发现194个病灶,而增强后T2WI FLAIR共发现185个病灶,4例增强后T2FLAIR较增强后T1WI显示的病灶多,6例增强后T2FLAIR显示的病灶少于增强后T1WI,25例两者显示的病灶相同,增强后T1WI因为脑浅表层血管混淆而漏诊误诊7个病灶,在对比增强后T2FLAIR均可明确诊断。大多数转移瘤在T1WI的强化程度高于T2FLAIR序列。转移瘤的肿瘤与灰质、肿瘤与白质的CR（对比率）以FLAIR序列为高,而转移瘤的肿瘤与灰质、肿瘤与白质的CNR（对比噪声比）以T1WI为高,两者有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。结论：增强后T2FLAIR序列可以有效显示脑转移灶,很好地鉴别大脑浅表部位的血管和转移瘤,增强T1WI序列能更明显地显示转移瘤的强化,两者同时使用,可以提高转移瘤的检出率与诊断准确性。     

增强FLAIR T2WI诊断脑膜转移瘤的价值

目的:探讨脑膜转移瘤的MRI表现及增强后FLAIR序列T2WI的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析20例脑膜转移瘤患者的病例资料,其中硬脑膜转移瘤5例,软脑膜转移瘤15例。所有病例行常规MRI平扫及SE T1WI和FLAIR序列T2WI增强扫描并进行对比分析。结果:MRI平扫检出6例,病灶边界均显示不清;MRI增强扫描检出所有病例,SE-T1WI上病变主要表现为脑膜的线状和/或结节状强化,FLAIR T2WI对软脑膜转移瘤病灶范围的显示更清楚,可鉴别强化的血管与病变。结论:MRI增强扫描是诊断脑膜转移瘤的重要检查方法,增强后FLAIR序列T2WI与SE T1WI同时使用,可提高对软脑膜转移瘤的检出率及诊断准确性。     

MR增强FLAIR序列在儿童脑膜病变诊断中的应用价值

目的分析儿童脑膜异常强化病变的MRI特征,探讨增强液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)序列对此类疾病的诊断价值。资料与方法对28例脑膜异常强化病变患儿行常规MR平扫及增强检查,增强检查为注入对比剂后行T1WI及FLAIR扫描。所获图像由三名有经验的影像诊断医师进行评估。结果增强FLAIR序列对脑膜病变的显示较敏感,同时可以将强化的皮层静脉及静脉窦正确区分,并可显示脑脊液的强化,但对于伴有脑实质内微小病灶的显示具有一定的局限性。结论增强FLAIR序列对目前广泛使用的增强T1WI具有较强的补充作用,联合使用能明显提高诊断的准确性。     

增强FLAIR序列和磁化传递对比在脑转移瘤的应用价值

目的 探讨增强液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)和磁化传递对比(MTC)两种序列对脑转移瘤的显示价值.资料与方法 对60例拟诊脑转移瘤的患者行MR常规扫描后采用T1WI、FLAIR、MTC序列再行增强扫描,并分别统计三种序列各自显示的病灶位置和个数及三种序列上转移瘤的病灶/正常组织信号强度比.结果 60例患者中42例发现脑转移瘤,共计131个病灶,增强后常规T1WI显示112个,FLAIR显示126个,MTC显示125个,三种序列上转移瘤的病灶/正常组织信号强度比差异有统计学意义.结论 增强后FLAIR序列和MTC对部分脑转移瘤的显示和诊断具有特殊意义,联合使用能提高脑转移瘤的诊断准确率.     

3.0T MR不同序列扫描技术在肺癌脑转移诊断中的应用

目的 探讨3.0T MR不同序列对肺癌脑转移的诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析本院经病理确诊为肺癌并经临床诊断为脑转移瘤的11例患者,所有病例均行常规T1WI、T2WI、T2 FLAIR、DWI、T1WI增强MR检查;其中4例行DTI检查;3例行SWI检查.对转移瘤的部位、信号特点、不同序列病灶的检出率、转移瘤与正常脑实质的rADC值等进行分析.结果 转移瘤好发于灰白质交界处,其中幕上73.5 %,幕下24.7 %;强化方式以结节状(80.7 %)和环状(16.3 %)为主.与其他序列相比T1WI增强检出率最高.转移瘤实质部分rADC值为(126.5±28.2)%,水肿部分的rADC值为(159.3±42.1)%,与正常侧脑实质rADC值差异有统计学意义(P< 0.05).3例SWI所显示脑部放疗转移瘤低信号区均较增强MRI范围小.4例转移瘤区的白质纤维束有移位、浸润.结论 3.0 T MR对肺癌脑及脑膜转移的检出有一定的优越性,T1WI增强扫描是最佳序列,弥散、弥散张量及磁敏感成像有助于脑转移瘤的定性诊断及疗效评估.     

增强FLAIR和磁化传递对比对脑转移瘤的诊断价值

目的:对照分析增强液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)和磁化传递对比(MTC)两种序列对脑转移瘤的诊断价值.方法:27例患有原发性肺癌且临床怀疑有脑转移的患者,比较增强后T1WI、MTC以及FLAIR显示脑转移病变的数目、位置及强化程度,并分析三者之间偏差的原因.结果:27例患者中,共计发现168个转移灶.增强后MTC显示166个病灶(98.8%),增强后FLAIR显示162个病灶(96.4%),增强T1 WI显示病灶最少,为148个(88.1%).大部分病灶强化程度与扫描延迟时间有关.增强后T1WI及MTC因与脑表面小血管混淆而致误判2枚病灶,在对比增强FLAIR均可明确诊断.结论:增强后FLAIR在脑转移瘤诊断中有一定价值,与MTC联合应用能提高脑转移瘤的诊断准确率.     

FLAIR序列在脑部疾病中的应用研究

目的　对比脑梗塞、脑出血、脑炎患者颅脑MR平扫时FLAIR序列与SE序列T2 WI的差异。方法　采用液体衰减翻转恢复序列 (FLAIR)和SE序列T1 WI、T2 WI序列MR技术 ,对 36例脑梗塞、1 8例脑出血、1 0例脑炎患者行颅脑MR平扫。观察、统计、测量这三类疾病FLAIR序列与常规T2 WI序列的MR信号强度、病灶面积、数目、分布。结果　早期脑梗塞患者FLAIR序列与常规T2 WI信号强度相同 ,病灶面积显示FLAIR序列小于T2 WI序列。晚期脑梗塞患者尤其在脑软化灶形成后FLAIR序列呈现明显低信号 ,而T2 WI为明显高信号。中期和晚期FLAIR序列发现脑梗塞病灶优于T2 WI序列 ,在近脑表面部FLAIR序列有其明显的优势。各期脑出血患者FLAIR序列的信号强度与T2 WI序列相似。FLAIR序列在脑炎患者的病灶面积显示上要小于T2 WI,显示的病灶边界比T2 WI序列清晰。结论　FLAIR序列在显示脑梗塞尤其是靠近脑表面的梗塞灶、鉴别脑软化灶和脱髓鞘改变以及脑炎病灶面积的显示上优于T2 WI。     

MR增强后液体衰减反转恢复序列对柔脑膜病变的诊断价值

目的评价MR液体衰减反转恢复（FLAIR）序列对柔脑膜病变的诊断价值。方法分析17例柔脑膜病变的MR平扫FLAIR、增强FLAIR和增强T1WI表现并比较三者对病变高信号的显示。结果柔脑膜病变在MR平扫FLAIR、增强FLAIR和T1WI上均呈沿脑沟、脑池弥漫或局部分布的异常脑回样或线样高信号。增强FLAIR与增强T1WI对病变显示的比较：7例只在增强FLAIR显示病变；7例二者均明显显示病变；2例二者均显示病变，但前者优于后者；另有1例结核性脑膜脑炎的双侧大脑半球脑沟弥漫性病变只在增强FLAIR显示，脑池病变二者均显示但前者优于后者。增强与平扫FLAIR对病变显示的比较：9例只在增强FLAIR显示病变；4例二者均明显显示病变；3例二者均显示病变但前者优于后者；另有1例结核性脑膜脑炎的脑池病变只在增强FLAIR显示，双侧大脑半球脑沟弥漫性病变二者均显示但前者优于后者。结论增强FLAIR显示柔脑膜病变优于平扫FLAIR和增强T1WI，对于平扫FLAIR和（或）增强T1WI怀疑柔脑膜病变时，增强FLAIR是必要的检查序列。     

T2 FLAIR增强扫描在颅内病变中价值的初步研究

目的探讨增强T2FLAIR在颅内病变诊断中的价值。方法58例资料完整并在增强T1WI或增强FLAIR上有强化的患者,确定增强T1WI和增强FLAIR上病变有无强化、强化的显著性、肿瘤性病变强化区的边界。结果3例脑梗塞在增强T1WI上未见强化,3例脑肿瘤在增强FLAIR上未见强化,1例脑膜瘤在增强FLAIR上呈负性强化;余51例中11例在增强FLAIR上强化更显著,16例在2个序列上强化相似,24例在T1WI上强化更显著。4例结核的脑膜病变范围和1例静脉窦血栓者回流受阻的皮层静脉在增强FLAIR上显示更加明确。结论增强T2FLAIR在颅内病变的诊断中有一定的价值,当增强T1WI显示不满意、怀疑脑膜或皮层血管病变时,应行增强T2FLAIR。     

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR imaging of intracranial metastases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postcontrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging effectively depicts parenchymal and leptomeningeal metastases, as reported in limited patient groups. We compared postcontrast T1-weighted (T1W) and FLAIR imaging in a larger group. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with known malignancy and suspected cranial metastases underwent axial FLAIR and spin-echo T1W imaging with and then without intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine. Postcontrast images were compared for lesion conspicuity and enhancement, number of parenchymal metastases, and extension of leptomeningeal-cisternal metastases. RESULTS: Parenchymal metastases were demonstrated in 33 patients. Compared with T1W images, postcontrast FLAIR images showed more metastases in five patients, an equal number in 20, and fewer lesions in eight. Regarding lesion conspicuity, postcontrast FLAIR imaging was superior in five patients, equal in one, and inferior in 27. For enhancement, FLAIR imaging was superior in five, equal in five, and inferior in 23. Superior FLAIR results for lesion number, conspicuity, and enhancement were observed in the same five patients; in these patients, FLAIR imaging was performed as the second postcontrast sequence. Eleven patients had leptomeningeal-cisternal metastases; lesion conspicuity, extension, and enhancement were superior on postcontrast FLAIR images in eight. In five of eight patients, FLAIR imaging was performed as the second postcontrast sequence. Four patients had cranial-nerve metastases; in three, postcontrast FLAIR imaging was superior for lesion conspicuity and extension. In two of these patients, FLAIR imaging was the second postcontrast sequence. CONCLUSION: Postcontrast FLAIR imaging is a valuable adjunct to postcontrast T1W imaging. Precontrast and postcontrast FLAIR imaging effectively delineates parenchymal metastases, particularly leptomeningeal-cisternal and cranial-nerve metastases.     

"Ivy sign" in childhood moyamoya disease: depiction on FLAIR and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images

PURPOSE: To compare contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) images with or without gadolinium in depicting the leptomeningeal ivy sign in children with moyamoya disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine sets of FLAIR and postcontrast T1-weighted MR images were available in 19 consecutive children with primary moyamoya disease confirmed with conventional and MR angiography. Contrast-enhanced FLAIR MR images also were available in 15 sets. Two pediatric radiologists reviewed FLAIR and postcontrast T1-weighted images in separate sessions for the leptomeningeal ivy sign and assigned a rating of "present," "absent," or "equivocal" by consensus. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced FLAIR MR images were compared side by side to determine which better depicted leptomeningeal high signal intensities. RESULTS: Postcontrast T1-weighted MR images revealed the leptomeningeal ivy sign in 40 hemispheres (frequency of visualization, 71% [40 of 56 hemispheres]), whereas unenhanced FLAIR MR images depicted it in 26 hemispheres (frequency of visualization, 46% [26 of 56 hemispheres]). An equivocal rating was given in 21 hemispheres versus in 11 on FLAIR and postcontrast T1-weighted images, respectively. FLAIR and postcontrast T1-weighted images agreed in 40 hemispheres. There was no case with a positive rating on FLAIR images when postcontrast T1-weighted images were negative. Unenhanced FLAIR MR imaging was superior to contrast-enhanced FLAIR imaging in seven hemispheres, whereas enhanced FLAIR was better in four of 28 hemispheres. In the remaining 17, findings with each sequence were similar. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images are better than FLAIR images for depicting the leptomeningeal ivy sign in moyamoya disease.     

Pre- and postcontrast FLAIR MR imaging in the diagnosis of intracranial meningeal pathology

PURPOSE: Few reports address the use of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) images of the brain in the diagnosis of extraaxial lesions. Our purpose was to assess the value of FLAIR images, including postcontrast ones, in the diagnosis of intracranial meningeal diseases. METHODS: We reviewed precontrast (n=24) and postcontrast (n=20) FLAIR images obtained from 25 patients with infectious meningitis (n=13), carcinomatous meningitis or dissemination of primary brain tumor (n=7), dural metastasis (n=3), and others (n=2) in comparison with fast spin-echo T2-weighted and postcontrast T1-weighted images. RESULTS: In lesion detectability, precontrast FLAIR images were significantly superior to fast spin-echo T2-weighted images but inferior to postcontrast T1-weighted images. There was no significant difference between postcontrast T1-weighted and FLAIR images. CONCLUSION: Precontrast FLAIR images can substitute for conventional fast spin-echo T2-weighted images. Postcontrast FLAIR images have diagnostic potential equivalent to conventional postcontrast T1-weighted images.     

Role of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery in the diagnosis of meningitis: comparison with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) has shown promise in the detection of subarachnoid space disease. The exact role of FLAIR in the diagnosis of meningitis has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate FLAIR in the detection of meningitis in comparison with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (T1WI) in a blinded-reader study. We describe hyperintense sulci (HS) on FLAIR sequence in meningitis in relation to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and effective echo time (TE). METHODS: Two observers blinded to clinical information reviewed magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with the diagnosis of meningitis and those of age-matched controls. The diagnosis was confirmed from chart review and CSF results. FLAIR images were obtained with 2 different TE values of 120 milliseconds and 150 milliseconds. FLAIR changes were correlated with CSF protein concentration and contrast-enhanced T1WI. RESULTS: Twenty-eight MR images of meningitis patients were reviewed. There were 23 abnormal MR images including 16 abnormal FLAIR scans with hyperintense sulci and 23 with leptomeningeal enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1WI. HS on FLAIR correlated with leptomeningeal enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1WI. Four viral and 1 bacterial meningitis had normal MR images (FLAIR and postcontrast TIWI). Two different TE values were used: 120 milliseconds (n = 15) and 150 milliseconds (n = 13). All patients with effective TE of 150 milliseconds. and CSF protein of more than 132 mg/dL had hyperintense sulci whereas patients with effective TE of 120 milliseconds and CSF protein of 257 mg/dL or more had HS. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced T1WI was higher than FLAIR. HS on FLAIR correlated with contrast enhancement on T1WI. However, the sensitivity of FLAIR depends on CSF protein concentration threshold for (CSF hyperintensity) for a given effective TE. FLAIR cannot replace contrast-enhanced T1WI in diagnosing meningitis.     

Brain: gadolinium-enhanced fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR imaging

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical utility of gadolinium-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain by comparing results with those at gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging with magnetization transfer (MT) saturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 105 consecutive patients referred for gadolinium-enhanced brain imaging, FLAIR and T1-weighted MR imaging with MT saturation were performed before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.1 mmol per kilogram of body weight). Pre- and postcontrast images were evaluated to determine the presence of abnormal contrast enhancement and whether enhancement was more conspicuous with the FLAIR or T1-weighted sequences. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies showed intracranial contrast enhancement. Postcontrast T1-weighted images with MT saturation showed superior enhancement in 14 studies, whereas postcontrast fast FLAIR images showed superior enhancement in 15 studies. Four cases demonstrated approximately equal contrast enhancement with both sequences. Six cases showed some areas of enhancement better with T1-weighted imaging with MT saturation and other areas better with postcontrast fast FLAIR imaging. Superficial enhancement was typically better seen with postcontrast fast FLAIR imaging. CONCLUSION: Fast FLAIR images have noticeable T1 contrast making gadolinium-induced enhancement visible. Gadolinium enhancement in lesions that are hyperintense on precontrast FLAIR images, such as intraparenchymal tumors, may be better seen on T1-weighted images than on postcontrast fast FLAIR images. However, postcontrast fast FLAIR images may be useful for detecting superficial abnormalities, such as meningeal disease, because they do not demonstrate contrast enhancement of vessels with slow flow as do T1-weighted images.     

增强FLAIR序列在颅脑病变中的应用

目的评价增强FLAIR序列在颅脑疾病诊断中的应用.材料与方法50例患者行脑MRI平扫(T1 WI、T2 WI、FLAIR)和Gd-DTPA增强(FLAIR和T1WI)检查,双盲法比较增强前后FLAIR与T1 WI的差异.结果所有病变在FALIR均显示不同程度的异常增强,在脑梗塞疾病中增强FLAIR诊断敏感性大于增强T1 WI.星形细胞瘤、转移瘤和结核瘤,T1 WI增强优于FLAIR.结论增强FLAIR在检查脑表面病变,如皮质或皮质下梗塞,诊断准确性高于增强T1 WI.