The applied research of MRI with ASSET-EPI-FLAIR combined with 3D TOF MRA sequences in the assessment of patients with acute cerebral infarction. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Zhichao; Guo, Zexiong; Qiu, Lin; Yang, Wanyoug; Lin, Mingxia
• Is Part Of: Acta radiologica. Volume 57:Number 12(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1515
• Page End: 1523
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Acute cerebral infarction -- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA) -- image quality -- fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR); Radiology, Medical -- Periodicals; Radiography, Medical -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1177/0284185116628338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0284-1851

Abstract

Background: To extend the time window for thrombolysis, reducing the time for diagnosis and detection of acute cerebral infarction seems to be warranted. Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of implementing an array spatial sensitivity technique (ASSET)-echo-planar imaging (EPI)-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (AE-FLAIR) sequence into an acute cerebral infarction magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation protocol, and to assess the diagnostic value of AE-FLAIR combined with three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA). Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients (68 men, 32 women; age range, 44–82 years) with acute cerebral infarction, including 50 consecutive uncooperative and 50 cooperative patients, were evaluated with T1-weighted (T1W) imaging, T2-weighted (T2W) imaging, FLAIR, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), 3D TOF, EPI-FLAIR, and AE-FLAIR. Conventional FLAIR, EPI-FLAIR, and AE-FLAIR were assessed by two observers independently for image quality. The optimized group (AE-FLAIR and 3D TOF) and the control group (T1W imaging, T2W imaging, conventional FLAIR, DWI, and 3D TOF) were compared for evaluation time and diagnostic accuracy. Results: One hundred and twenty-five lesions were detected and images having adequate diagnostic image quality were in 73% of conventional FLAIR, 62% of EPI-FLAIR, and 89% of AE-FLAIR. The detection time was 12 ± 1 min with 76% accuracy and 4 ± 0.5 min with 100% accuracy in the control and the optimized groups, respectively. Inter-observer agreements of κ = 0.78 and κ = 0.81 were for the optimized group and control group, respectively. Conclusion: With reduced acquisition time and better image quality, AE-FLAIR combined with 3D TOF may be used as a rapid diagnosis tool in patients with acute cerebral infarction, especially in uncooperative patients.