Application of T2* measurement on gradient echo T2*-weighted imaging in differential diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage and calcification

Background  Differential diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage and calcification is a common problem encountered in clinical imaging diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of T2^* measurement on gradient echo (GRE) T2^*-weighted imaging (T2^*WI) in differential diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage and calcification.

Methods  Thirty-eight hemorrhagic foci in 18 patients and 11 calcification foci in seven patients were included in this study. The diagnosis of hemorrhage and calcification was confirmed in all cases with enhanced T2^* weighted angiography (ESWAN) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT respectively. The significance for the difference of T2^* value between the central and peripheral areas of hemorrhage and calcification lesions was tested with univariate analysis of variance.

Results  The detection rate of GRE T2^*WI on intracranial hemorrhage was 1.9-fold higher than that of CT, especially for the hemorrhage in the brainstem and cerebellum. However, GRE T2^*WI was far less sensitive to calcification than CT. There was a significant difference in the T2^* value between the central area of hemorrhage and calcification (P <0.001), though no difference in the T2^* value was obtained between the peripheral area of hemorrhage and calcification (P >0.05).

Conclusions  Quantitative measurement of T2^* value on GRE T2^*WI with a single MRI examination provides a fast, convenient, and effective means in differential diagnosis between intracranial hemorrhage and calcification, which may thus reduce the medical cost and save precious time for clinical management.