Double echo steady state MR imaging of epidermoids.

Summary This study demonstrates the efficiency of double echo steady state (DESS) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of intracranial epidermoids. Two surgically proven cerebellopontine angle epidermoids were evaluated with five MR imaging techniqu es, that is,T1-weighted image, T2-weighted image, diffusion-weighted image, fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery and constructive interference in steady state, followed by DESS. On DESS images, epidermoids showed homogenous hyperintensity with excellent contrast between tumor and the surrounding cisterns and brain tissue. Providing excellent tumor contrast with high spatial resolution, DESS is superior to other imaging techniques in diagnosing epidermoids.