RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Quantitative MR Evaluation of Intracranial Epidermoid Tumors by Fast Fluid-attenuated Inversion Recovery Imaging and Echo-planar Diffusion-weighted Imaging
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 1089
OP 1096
VO 22
IS 6
A1 Chen, Shuda
A1 Ikawa, Fusao
A1 Kurisu, Kaoru
A1 Arita, Katsunori
A1 Takaba, Junko
A1 Kanou, Yukari
YR 2001
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/22/6/1089.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantification of MR can provide objective, accurate criteria for evaluation of a given MR sequence. We quantitatively compared conventional MR sequences with fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (fast-FLAIR) and echo-planar diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging in the examination of intracranial epidermoid tumors.METHODS: Eight patients with surgically confirmed intracranial epidermoid tumors were examined with T1-weighted MR sequences, fast T2- and proton density–weighted dual-echo sequences, fast-FLAIR sequences, and DW echo-planar sequences. We measured the MR signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of epidermoid tumors, normal brain tissue, and CSF and calculated the tumor-to-brain and tumor-to-CSF contrast ratios and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR). Results were compared among the five MR methods.RESULTS: On fast-FLAIR imaging, the mean signal intensity of epidermoid tumors was significantly higher than that of CSF but significantly lower than that of the brain; the contrast ratio and CNR of tumor-to-CSF were 4.71 and 9.17, respectively, significantly greater than the values with conventional MR imaging. On echo-planar DW imaging, epidermoid tumors showed a remarkably hyperintense signal relative to those of the brain and CSF; the mean contrast ratio and CNR of tumor-to-CSF were 13.25 and 19.34, respectively, significantly greater than those on fast-FLAIR or conventional MR imaging. The mean ADC of epidermoid tumors was 1.197 × 10−3 mm2/s, significantly lower than that of CSF but higher than that of brain tissues.CONCLUSION: Fast-FLAIR imaging is superior to conventional MR imaging in depicting intracranial epidermoid tumors. Echo-planar DW imaging provides the best lesion conspicuity among the five MR methods. The hyperintensity of epidermoid tumors on echo-planar DW imaging is not caused by the diffusion restriction but by the T2 shine-through effect.