Utility of contrast‑enhanced fluid‑attenuated inversion recovery in magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial lesions

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Dr. Rajul Bhargava
Abhijit M Patil
Vidhi Bakshi
Tushar M Kalekar
Siddappa G Gandage

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine utility of contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging by comparing results with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) in various intracranial lesions.


Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients with a known intracranial lesion or with clinical suspicion underwent the gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using 1.5T. Postcontrast axial, coronal, and sagittal T1 fat-saturated, axial FLAIR images were acquired after administration of gadobenate dimeglumine. The MR imaging parameters for the postcontrast T2-FLAIR images were 6000–9000/90–110/1845–2030 ms/150 (repetition time/echo time/inversion time/flip angle), and the acquisition time was 2 min 12 s. All images were acquired with a section thickness of 5 mm, an intersection gap of 2 mm, and a field of view of 256 mm × 144 mm. The images were transferred to a workstation and reviewed.


Results: We found that postcontrast FLAIR images are useful by showing better meningeal involvement in various pathologies and enhancement of the solid component in intra-axial lesions. However, it was not much helpful in extra-axial lesions and lesions with mild postcontrast enhancement and lesions with perilesional edema.


Conclusion: Postcontrast FLAIR is a useful adjunct to postcontrast T1W images in equivocal cases and for additional information.

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How to Cite

Bhargava, R., Patil, A. M., Bakshi, V., Kalekar, T. M., & Gandage, S. G. (2025). Utility of contrast‑enhanced fluid‑attenuated inversion recovery in magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial lesions. West African Journal of Radiology, 25(1), 34-38. https://doi.org/10.82235/wajr.vol25no1.397

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