Brain imaging: Comparison of T1W FLAIR BLADE with conventional T1W SE

Panayiotis Mavroidis; Eleonora Giankou; Aleksandra Tsikrika; Eftichia Kapsalaki; Vasiliki Chatzigeorgiou; Georgios Batsikas; Georgios Zaimis; Spiros Kostopoulos; Dimitrios Glotsos; Konstantinos Ninos; Vasilios Georgountzos; Dionisios Kavouras; Eleftherios Lavdas

doi:10.1016/j.mri.2016.12.007

Brain imaging: Comparison of T1W FLAIR BLADE with conventional T1W SE

Magn Reson Imaging. 2017 Apr:37:234-242. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.12.007. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
² Department of Medical Radiological Technologists, Technological Education Institute of Athens, Greece.
³ Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
⁴ Department of Medical Imaging, IASO Thessalias Hospital, Larissa, Greece.
⁵ Department of Medical Instruments Technology, Techological Education Institute of Athens, Greece.
⁶ Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Athens 'G. Genimatas', Athens, Greece.
⁷ Department of Medical Radiological Technologists, Technological Education Institute of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: llavdas@teiath.gr.

PMID: 27939435
DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.12.007

Abstract

Introduction: Although T1 weighted spin echo (T1W SE) images are widely used to study anatomical details and pathologic abnormalities of the brain, its role in delineation of lesions and reduction of artifacts has not been thoroughly investigated. BLADE is a fairly new technique that has been reported to reduce motion artifacts and improve image quality.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to compare the quality of T1-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images with BLADE technique (T1W FLAIR BLADE) and the quality of T1W SE images in the MR imaging of the brain. The goal is to highlight the advantages of the two sequences as well as which one can better reduce flow and motion artifacts so that the imaging of the lesions will not be impaired.

Materials and methods: Brain examinations with T1W FLAIR BLADE and T1W SE sequences were performed on 48 patients using a 1.5T scanner. These techniques were evaluated by two radiologists based on: a) a qualitative analysis i.e. overall image quality, presence of artifacts, CSF nulling; and b) a quantitative analysis of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) and Relative Contrast. The statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric system.

Results: In the qualitative analysis, BLADE sequences had a higher scoring than the conventional sequences in all the cases. The overall image quality was better on T1W FLAIR BLADE. Motion and flow-related artifacts were lower in T1W FLAIR BLADE. Regarding the SNR measurements, T1W SE appeared to have higher values in the majority of cases, whilst T1W-FLAIR BLADE had higher values in the CNR and Relative Contrast measurements.

Conclusion: T1W FLAIR BLADE sequence appears to be superior to T1W SE in overall image quality and reduction of motion and flow-pulsation artifacts as well as in nulling CSF and has been preferred by the clinicians. T1W FLAIR BLADE may be an alternative approach in brain MRI imaging.

Keywords: 1.5T MRI; BLADE sequences; Brain examination; Motion artifacts.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Artifacts
Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Motion
Neuroimaging / methods
Reproducibility of Results
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
Young Adult