Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
Eur Radiol. 2014 Apr;24(4):841-9. doi: 10.1007/s00330-013-3080-y. Epub 2013 Dec 9.
To investigate whether a new magnetic resonance image (MRI) technique called T2*-weighted fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR*) can differentiate between multiple sclerosis (MS) and vascular brain lesions, at 7 Tesla (T).
We examined 16 MS patients and 16 age-matched patients with (risk factors for) vascular disease. 3D-FLAIR and T2*-weighted images were combined into FLAIR* images. Lesion type and intensity, perivascular orientation and presence of a hypointense rim were analysed.
In total, 433 cerebral lesions were detected in MS patients versus 86 lesions in vascular patients. Lesions in MS patients were significantly more often orientated in a perivascular manner: 74 % vs. 47 % (P < 0.001). Ten MS lesions (2.3 %) were surrounded by a hypointense rim on FLAIR*, and 24 MS lesions (5.5 %) were hypointense on T2*. No lesions in vascular patients showed any rim or hypointensity. Specificity of differentiating MS from vascular lesions on 7-T FLAIR* increased when the presence of a central vessel was taken into account (from 63 % to 88 %), most obviously for deep white matter lesions (from 69 % to 94 %). High sensitivity remained (81 %).
7-T FLAIR* improves differentiation between MS and vascular lesions based on lesion location, perivascular orientation and presence of hypointense (rims around) lesions.
• A new MRI technique T2*-weighted fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR*) was investigated. • FLAIR* at 7-T MRI combines FLAIR and T2* images into a single image. • FLAIR* at 7 T does not require enhancement with contrast agents. •High-resolution 7-T FLAIR* improves differentiation between MS and vascular brain lesions. • FLAIR* revealed a central vessel more frequently in MS than vascular lesions.
在 7 特斯拉（T）下，研究一种新的磁共振成像（MRI）技术，称为 T2*-加权液体衰减反转恢复（FLAIR*），能否区分多发性硬化症（MS）和血管性脑病变。
我们检查了 16 名 MS 患者和 16 名年龄匹配的血管疾病患者（血管疾病的危险因素）。将 3D-FLAIR 和 T2*-加权图像组合成 FLAIR*图像。分析了病变类型和强度、血管周围取向以及是否存在低信号环。
MS 患者共发现 433 个脑病变，血管患者发现 86 个病变。MS 患者的病变明显更常呈血管周围取向：74%比 47%（P<0.001）。MS 病变中有 10 个（2.3%）在 FLAIR上环绕低信号环，24 个（5.5%）在 T2上呈低信号。血管患者的病变没有任何边缘或低信号。当考虑到中央血管的存在时，7-T FLAIR*区分 MS 与血管病变的特异性从 63%增加到 88%（P<0.001），对深部白质病变的影响最为明显（从 69%增加到 94%）。高灵敏度仍然保持（81%）。
7-T FLAIR*基于病变位置、血管周围取向和低信号（病变周围的环）的存在，改善了 MS 与血管病变之间的区分。
研究了一种新的 MRI 技术 T2*-加权液体衰减反转恢复（FLAIR*）。
FLAIR在 7-T MRI 中将 FLAIR 和 T2图像组合成一个单一的图像。
FLAIR*在 7T 下不需要用造影剂增强。
高分辨率 7-T FLAIR*提高了 MS 与血管性脑病变之间的区分。
FLAIR*在 MS 中比血管病变更常显示中央血管。
