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Fast spin-echo imaging of the neck: comparison with conventional spin-echo, utility of fat suppression, and evaluation of tissue contrast characteristics.
Fast spin-echo imaging of the neck: comparison with conventional spin-echo, utility of fat suppression, and evaluation of tissue contrast characteristics.
- Source :
-
AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology [AJNR Am J Neuroradiol] 1994 Aug; Vol. 15 (7), pp. 1351-7. - Publication Year :
- 1994
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Abstract
- Purpose: To determine whether fast spin-echo sequences could replace conventional spin-echo methods in the evaluation of head and neck neoplasms and associated adenopathy and to evaluate differences in tissue contrast characteristics between conventional spin-echo and fast spin-echo examinations of head and neck disease.<br />Methods: Twenty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma were imaged on a 1.5-T imager with both conventional spin-echo and fast spin-echo sequences with identical section thickness and position. Twenty-one of the 27 fast spin-echo studies were performed with frequency-selective fat suppression. Three radiologists independently evaluated the images using a five-point scale to compare primary lesion margin definition and conspicuity, lymph node margin definition and conspicuity, gross motion artifact, and flow artifact. Quantitative percent contrast and contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated and compared in 7 cases with fat-suppressed fast spin-echo.<br />Results: Fast spin-echo was preferred by all three readers for lesion margin conspicuity and lymph node conspicuity. Gross motion and flow artifact demonstrated trends toward reader preference for fast spin-echo. Quantitative contrast values for fast spin-echo were significantly greater than those for conventional spin-echo.<br />Conclusions: Fast spin-echo with fat suppression can replace conventional spin-echo at a time savings of more than 50% and improves tissue contrast and the conspicuity and definition of margins for primary lesions and lymph nodes. Fat-suppression heterogeneity remains the major limitation of this technique. Thus, careful attention to fat-suppression failure and unwanted water saturation is essential.
- Subjects :
- Adipose Tissue pathology
Artifacts
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology
Humans
Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms diagnosis
Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms pathology
Lymph Nodes pathology
Lymphatic Metastasis
Mouth Neoplasms diagnosis
Mouth Neoplasms pathology
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms diagnosis
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms pathology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell diagnosis
Head and Neck Neoplasms diagnosis
Image Enhancement methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0195-6108
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 7976949