Abstract
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging with prolonged inversion times allows generation of highly T2-weighted images of the brain with suppression of cerebrospinal fluid signal. Such sequences result in high lesion contrast and allow visualisation of abnormalities not seen with conventional T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. We used FLAIR sequences, proton density (PD) and standard T2-weighted images to examine lesion number and distribution in ten patients with clinically definite relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). We also studied the extent and distribution of blood-brain-barrier breakdown by gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images. FLAIR sequences proved feasible both in terms of acquisition time and image quality using a 0.5 T imager. FLAIR imaging allowed identification of 45 % more high-signal lesions than T2-weighted or PD images in the 10 patients. In particular, 60 % more lesions within the cortex and at the grey-white interface were identified. Cortical lesions, none of which enhanced following gadolinium-DTPA injection, were present in seven of the ten patients studied. Of all lesions identified, 8 % were cortical. FLAIR sequences are more sensitive to cortical and subcortical lesions in patients with active demyelination.
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Boggild, M.D., Williams, R., Haq, N. et al. Cortical plaques visualised by fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Neuroradiology 38 (Suppl 1), S10–S13 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02278111
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02278111