T1- and T2-weighted fast spin-echo imaging of the brachial plexus and cervical spine with IDEAL water-fat separation

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006 Oct;24(4):825-32. doi: 10.1002/jmri.20721.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) method with fat-saturated T1-weighted (T1W) and T2W fast spin-echo (FSE) and short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) imaging of the brachial plexus and cervical spine.

Materials and methods: Images acquired at 1.5T in five volunteers using fat-saturated T1W and T2W FSE imaging and STIR were compared with T1W and T2W IDEAL-FSE images. Examples of T1W and T2W IDEAL-FSE images acquired in patients are also shown.

Results: T1W and T2W IDEAL-FSE demonstrated superior fat suppression (P<0.05) and image quality (P<0.05), compared to T1W and T2W fat-saturated FSE, respectively. SNR performance of T1W-IDEAL-FSE was similar to T1W FSE in the spinal cord (P=0.250) and paraspinous muscles (P=0.78), while T2W IDEAL-FSE had superior SNR in muscle (P=0.02) and CSF (P=0.02), and marginally higher cord SNR (P=0.09). Compared to STIR, T2W IDEAL-FSE demonstrated superior image quality (P<0.05), comparable fat suppression (excellent, P=1.0), and higher SNR performance (P<0.001).

Conclusion: IDEAL-FSE is a promising method for T1W and T2W imaging of the brachial plexus and cervical spine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Body Water
  • Brachial Plexus / pathology*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Contrast Media
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA