[MRT of the hypophysis: spin echo 2D or gradient echo 3D?].

Diagnostic efficacy of T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo and 2D spin-echo pulse sequences in the detection of adenomas were evaluated in a ROC study of 50 patients. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy did not differ significantly, but in direct comparison gradient-echo received a clear lower rating due to susceptibility artifacts, lower signal-to-noise ratio, and inferior periglandular contrasts. Additional lesions could not be reliably detected in gradient-echo imaging at 1 mm slice thickness. A substitution of 2D spin-echo imaging by gradient-echo sequences cannot be recommended at present.