PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Miller, J.H.
AU  - Walkiewicz, T.
AU  - Towbin, R.B.
AU  - Curran, J.G.
TI  - Improved Delineation of Ventricular Shunt Catheters Using Fast Steady-State Gradient Recalled-Echo Sequences in a Rapid Brain MR Imaging Protocol in Nonsedated Pediatric Patients
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A1866
DP  - 2010 Mar 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 430--435
VI  - 31
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/31/3/430.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/31/3/430.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2010 Mar 01; 31
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rapid brain MR imaging is often substituted for head CT in multiply imaged patients with shunted hydrocephalus. Fast TSE-T2 sequences are commonly used in these protocols. One limitation of TSE-T2 sequences is the decreased catheter delineation compared with CT. The aim of this study was to compare fast TSE-T2 with rapid SS-GRE sequences in the evaluation of intracranial shunt catheter delineation as part of a rapid nonsedated pediatric brain MR imaging protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the findings from 179 consecutive patients who underwent routine clinical imaging according to the rapid nonsedated pediatric brain MR imaging protocol. Comparison of the quality of intracranial shunt catheter localization on SS-GRE versus TSE-T2 was performed. RESULTS: Of the total of 179 rapid nonsedated pediatric brain MR images that were reviewed, 62 (35%) had an intracranial shunt catheter. The shunt catheter tip was better localized on the SS-GRE than on the TSE-T2 images in 49/62 (79%) of these patients. Of the remaining 13/62 (21%), the TSE-T2 was either better or equivalent in localizing the shunt catheter tip. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that rapid SS-GRE sequences can provide better delineation of standard intracranial shunt catheters than standard rapid MR imaging protocols containing only fast TSE-T2 sequences. FAflip angleFIDfree induction decayFSEfast spin-echoGREgradient recalled-echoRISRadiology Information SystemSS-GREsteady-state gradient recalled-echoTSE-T2T2 turbo spin-echo