[Value of turbo-spin-echo sequences in cerebral magnetic resonance tomography in children].

AIM

The value of turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences was compared with conventional spin-echo (SE) and inversion-recovery (IR) sequences for cerebral MRT in 70 children at 0.5 T and 1.5 T. In addition we evaluated whether proton weighted sequences (PD) were diagnostically important and in what proportion of cases.

METHOD

Conventional T1 and T2 weighted SE and T2 weighted TSE sequences were used in all children. An IR sequence was performed in 39 patients. The various sequences were analysed semiquantitatively with regard to image quality, artifacts and the demonstration of normal and anatomical structures and pathological findings.

RESULTS

By any criteria, TSE sequences were superior to conventional T2 weighted SE sequences at 0.5T and 1.5 T, requiring a shorter examination time (35-53%). In 8.6% the pathological finding was best seen on PD-SE sequences (5 glial scars, 1 tumor).

CONCLUSION

Although TSE sequences are better than T2 SE sequences with regard to image quality and the demonstration of abnormalities, conventional double-echo SE sequences (with PD and T2 weighted images) cannot be entirely replaced by T2 weighted TSE sequences in children.