T1 Signal-Intensity Increase in the Dentate Nucleus after Multiple Exposures to Gadodiamide: Intraindividual Comparison between 2 Commonly Used Sequences

Fellows’ Journal Club

The authors performed intraindividual qualitative and quantitative comparison between T1-weighted spin-echo and 3D MPRAGE images in 18 patients who had multiple exposures to gadodiamide. Differences in signal between the 2 sequences for both baseline and last examination dentate nucleus/middle cerebellar peduncle ratios were statistically significant. They conclude that T1-weighted spin-echo and MPRAGE sequences cannot be used interchangeably for qualitative or quantitative signal intensity analysis of the dentate nucleus in patients who received gadodiamide.

Abstract

Figure 1 from paper
Axial MR images in a 40-year-old male patient with a right frontal low-grade astrocytoma. Unenhanced axial T1-weighted spin-echo (A and C) and 3D MPRAGE MR images (B and D) of the first (A and B) and fifth (2 years later, C and D) gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging examinations at the level of the dentate nuclei of the cerebellum. The images show progressively increased T1 signal of the dentate nuclei (white arrows, C and D). Note that the qualitative analysis was slightly different between the 2 sequences.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Different T1-weighted sequences have been used for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of T1 signal intensity related to gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus in patients who underwent several enhanced MR imaging studies. Our purpose was to perform an intraindividual qualitative and quantitative comparison between T1-weighted spin-echo and 3D magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient echo sequences in patients who had multiple exposures to gadodiamide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our retrospectively selected population included 18 patients who underwent at least 3 administrations of gadodiamide and had a baseline and a final MR imaging performed with both T1-weighted sequences. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were independently performed. Dentate nucleus/middle cerebellar peduncle signal-intensity ratios and signal changes between the baseline and final examinations were compared by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Correlation between quantitative and qualitative evaluations was assessed by using a polyserial correlation test.

RESULTS

The differences between the 2 sequences for both baseline and last examination dentate nucleus/middle cerebellar peduncle ratios were statistically significant (P = .008 and P = .006, respectively); however, the signal-intensity changes of the ratios with time were not (P = .64). The correlation between the qualitative and quantitative analysis was very strong (near-perfect) (r = 0.9) for MPRAGE and strong (r = 0.63) for spin-echo sequences.

CONCLUSIONS

T1-weighted spin-echo and MPRAGE sequences cannot be used interchangeably for qualitative or quantitative analysis of signal intensity in the dentate nucleus in patients who received gadodiamide. Baseline and final examination ratios should be evaluated across time by using the same sequence. Qualitative analysis performed with MPRAGE correlated better with quantitative analysis and may offer advantages over spin-echo sequences for research purposes.

 

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T1 Signal-Intensity Increase in the Dentate Nucleus after Multiple Exposures to Gadodiamide: Intraindividual Comparison between 2 Commonly Used Sequences
Jeffrey Ross
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