Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted black-blood fast spin-echo MR imaging of the brain: Technique for suppression of enhancing venous signal

Abstract

Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted black-blood fast spin-echo MR imaging (BB-FSE) was performed to suppress enhancing venous signal and flow artifacts in the brain without sacrificing the T1-weighted imaging contrast. Twenty-five MR imaging sections (17 transverse and 8 coronal images) in 15 patients with various brain diseases were obtained by contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE and BB-FSE images. In contrast-enhanced T1-weighted BB-FSE images, venous signal was significantly less and T1-weighted contrast of the brain was more evident. No differences in flow artifacts were found between the two imaging techniques. The interobserver agreements were good for the venous signal and flow artifacts using both techniques. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted BB-FSE imaging reduced the venous signal in the brain with maintaining T1-weighted contrast. This novel MR technique can be used when the suppression of enhancing venous signal is expected to improve the depiction of enhancing lesions in the brain.