Preliminary evaluation of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR in the diagnosis of intracranial tumors

PURPOSE: To report our preliminary results in the application of a turbo fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) MR technique to the diagnosis of intracranial tumors and to assess the clinical usefulness of this technique. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with various intracranial tumors were studied with MR imaging, including a turbo FLAIR sequence. FLAIR images were compared with images obtained with conventional spin-echo sequences. RESULTS: Except for 2 lesions in 1 patient, tumor signal intensities on FLAIR images were consistent with those shown on T2-weighted spin-echo images. FLAIR images showed peritumoral edema more clearly than T2-weighted and proton density-weighted images when the tumor itself was not hyperintense. In 8 of 23 patients in whom edema was associated with tumor, FLAIR images provided better definition between edema and tumor than did T2-weighted and proton density-weighted images. In 5 patients, FLAIR images depicted different signal intensity between cerebrospinal fluid and a cystic or necrotic component. In 20 of 22 patients, postcontrast FLAIR images showed contrast enhancement comparable to that seen on postcontrast T1-weighted images. CONCLUSION: Turbo FLAIR images can supplement conventional spin-echo images in the diagnosis of intracranial tumors.