T1-weighted MR Imaging of the Neonatal Brain at 3.0 Tesla: Comparison of Spin Echo, Fast Inversion Recovery, and Magnetization-prepared Three Dimensional Gradient Echo Techniques

3T 자기공명영상 장비에서 신생아 뇌의 T1 강조 영상: 스핀에코, 고속 역전회복, 자기화 삼차원 경사에코기법의 비교

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fast inversion recovery (FIR) and magnetization-prepared three dimensional gradient echo sequence (3D GRE) T1-weighted sequences for neonatal brain imaging compared with spin echo (SE) sequence in a 3T MR unit. Materials and Methods: T1-weighted axial SE, FIR and 3D GRE sequences were evaluated from 3T brain MR imaging in 20 neonates. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of different tissues was measured and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were determined and compared in each of the sequences. Visual analysis was carried out by grading gray-white matter differentiation, myelination, and artifacts. The Wilcoxon signed ranked test was used for evaluation of the statistical significance of CNR differences between the sequences. Results: Among the three sequences, the 3D GRE had the best SNRs. CNRs obtained with FIR and 3D GRE were statistically superior to those obtained with SE; these CNRs were better on the 3D GRE compared to the FIR. Gray to white matter differentiation and myelination were better delineated on the FIR and 3D GRE than the SE. However, motion artifacts were more commonly observed on the 3D GRE and flow-related artifacts of vessels were frequently seen on the FIR. Conclusion: FIR and 3D GRE are valuable alternative T1-weighted sequences to conventional SE imaging of the neonatal brain at 3T providing superior image quality.

목적: 3T 장비의 신생아 뇌자기공명영상에서 T1 강조 고속 역전회복기법 (fast inversion recovery, FIR)과 자기화 삼차원 경사에코기법, (magnetization-prepared three dimensional gradient echo sequence, 3D GRE)을 스핀에코기법 (SE)과 비교하여 유용성을 알아보는 데 있다. 대상 및 방법: 20명의 신생아에서 T1 강조 SE, FIR, 그리고 3D GRE의 신호소음비 (SNR)와 대조소음비 (CNR)를 측정하고 시각적으로 회백질-백질 구별, 수초화 인식, 인공음영 발생을 점수화하여 비교하였다. 각 영상기법의 CNR 비교에는 Wilcoxon signed ranked test를 사용하였다. 결과: 세가지 영상기법 중 3D GRE가 가장 우수한 SNR을 보였고 CNR은 FIR과 3D GRE 모두 SE보다 우수하였으며 FIR보다 3D GRE가 더 우수하였다. 회백질-백질의 구분과 수초화 유무 역시 스핀에코보다 FIR과 3D GRE에서 더 잘 보였다. 그러나 3D GRE는 움직임에 의한 인공음영이 많았고 FIR에서 혈류에 의한 혈관의 고신호강도가 자주 발견되었다. 결론: 3T 장비에서 신생아 뇌영상을 얻을 때 FIR과 3D GRE 기법은 SE보다 좋은 T1 강조영상을 제공할 것으로 기대된다.