Role of contrast-enhanced flair sequence in magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating intracranial pathologies

Abstract

Background: Magnetic resolution imaging (MRI) has superior soft tissue contrast for characterization and diagnosing various intracranial lesions. Various MRI techniques are used for characterizing intracranial lesions. Post contrast T1 imaging is the traditional technique used for assessing lesion contrast enhancement. This study intends to assess the use of post contrast Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) imaging for assessing lesion contrast enhancement. Results: The participants were analyzed by age, gender, number of lesions observed for each participant, signal intensity pattern for all intracranial lesions on both post contrast sequences, comparison of degree of contrast enhancement of all intracranial lesions on both post contrast sequences, comparison between various intra-axial & extra-axial intracranial lesions on both post contrast sequences, comparison between various intracranial lesions based on their etiology on both post contrast sequences and comparison of each intracranial lesion on both post contrast sequences. Conclusion: The study suggests that the overall degree of contrast enhancement is superior for contrast enhanced T1 sequences for the majority of the lesions, however complete lesion pathology cannot be assessed on this sequence alone. Although post contrast FLAIR sequence has shown greater degree of contrast enhancement in infectious meningitis, hemangioblastoma and toxoplasmosis, this was not statistically significant (p value >0.05) possibly owing to less sample size. Hence, further studies with more sample size should be assessed to establish the significance. Therefore, contrast enhanced FLAIR sequence is an important adjunct for imaging of the various intracranial pathologies and should be incorporated for evaluating various intracranial pathologies.