Comparison of 3D Cube FLAIR with 2D FLAIR for Multiple Sclerosis Imaging at 3 Tesla

Abstract

Purpose: Three-dimensional (3 D) MRI sequences allow improved spatial resolution with good signal and contrast properties as well as multiplanar reconstruction. We sought to compare Cube, a 3 D FLAIR sequence, to a standard 2 D FLAIR sequence in multiple sclerosis (MS) imaging.

Materials and Methods: Examinations were performed in the clinical routine on a 3.0 Tesla scanner. 12 patients with definite MS were included. Lesions with MS-typical properties on the images of Cube FLAIR and 2 D FLAIR sequences were counted and allocated to different brain regions. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were calculated.

Results: With 384 the overall number of lesions found with Cube FLAIR was significantly higher than with 2 D FLAIR (N = 221). The difference was mostly accounted for by supratentorial lesions (N = 372 vs. N = 216) while the infratentorial lesion counts were low in both sequences. SNRs and CNRs were significantly higher in CUBE FLAIR with the exception of the CNR of lesion to gray matter, which was not significantly different.

Conclusion: Cube FLAIR showed a higher sensitivity for MS lesions compared to a 2 D FLAIR sequence. 3 D FLAIR might replace 2 D FLAIR sequences in MS imaging in the future.

Key points:

1. MRI findings are an important part of multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria.

2. Significantly more lesions were detected with 3 D Cube FLAIR compared to 2 D FLAIR.

3. Signal and contrast properties of 3 D Cube FLAIR were mostly superior to 2 D FLAIR.

4. 3 D FLAIR might replace 2 D FLAIR in the future

Citation Format:

• Patzig M, Burke M, Brückmann H et al. Comparison of 3D Cube FLAIR with 2D FLAIR for Multiple Sclerosis Imaging at 3 Tesla. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2014; 186: 484 – 488

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Dreidimensionale MRT-Sequenzen erlauben sowohl eine verbesserte räumliche Auflösung bei guten Signal- und Kontrasteigenschaften als auch multiplanare Rekonstruktionen. Wir verglichen Cube, eine 3-D-FLAIR-Sequenz, mit einer Standard-2 D-FLAIR-Sequenz bei der Bildgebung der multiplen Sklerose (MS).

Material und Methoden: Die Untersuchungen wurden an einem 3-Tesla-Scanner in der klinischen Routine durchgeführt. 12 Patienten mit gesicherter MS wurden eingeschlossen. Läsionen mit MS-typischen Eigenschaften wurden gezählt und verschiedenen Hirnregionen zugeordnet. Signal-Rausch-(SNR) und Kontrast-Rausch-Verhältnisse (CNR) wurden berechnet.

Ergebnisse: Die Anzahl der insgesamt detektierten Läsionen war mit 384 mit der Cube-FLAIR-Sequenz signifikant höher als mit der 2-D-FLAIR-Sequenz (N = 221). Der Unterschied kam hauptsächlich durch supratentorielle Läsionen zustande (N = 372 gegenüber N = 216), während die Anzahl gefundener infratentorieller Läsionen mit beiden Sequenzen gering war. Die berechneten SNR und CNR lagen bei der Cube-FLAIR signifikant höher als bei der 2-D-FLAIR, mit Ausnahme der CNR von Läsion zu grauer Substanz, welche sich nicht signifikant unterschied.

Schlussfolgerung: Die Cube-FLAIR-Sequenz zeigte eine höhere Sensitivität für MS-Läsionen gegenüber einer 2-D-FLAIR-Sequenz. 3-D-FLAIR- könnten 2-D-FLAIR-Sequenzen in Zukunft ersetzen.

Kernaussagen:

1. MRT-Befunde sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Diagnosekriterien für multiple Sklerose.

2. Mit 3-D-Cube-FLAIR wurden mehr Läsionen nachgewiesen als mit der 2-D-FLAIR.

3. Signal- und Kontrasteigenschaften der 3-D-Cube-FLAIR waren größtenteils signifikant besser gegenüber der 2-D-FLAIR.

4. 3-D-FLAIR könnte 2-D-FLAIR in Zukunft ersetzen.

Key points

MR imaging - multiple sclerosis - 3 D imaging - FLAIR

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