[Turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences with selective fat suppression (SPIR) compared with chemical shift sequences in MRI for differentiation of adrenal tumors. Spectral Presaturation by Inversion Recovery].

AIM

The value of chemical-shift-gradient-echo sequences and turbo-spin-echo sequences with selective fat suppression (SPIR = Spectral Presaturation by Inversion Recovery) in the differentiation of benign and malignant adrenal tumours was investigated.

METHODS

Both techniques were performed at 1.5 T in 22 patients with 24 tumours. The loss of signal intensity of the tumour or of the signal intensity ratio between tumour and liver or muscle on the opposed phase Fast-Field-Echo (FFE) sequence in comparison to the in phase FFE sequence or on the TSE-SPIR sequence compared to the TSE sequence was the criterion for intratumoral lipid, suggesting a benign mass.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of the chemical shift technique was 62-77 and 100%, respectively. In adrenal tumours larger than 1.5 cm sensitivity of the chemical-shift technique was 89%. On the contrary sensitivity of the TSE-SPIR sequence was only 11-78%. Both techniques had a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSION

The chemical shift technique is more accurate in the differentiation of adrenal masses than the TSE-SPIR sequence.