Application of Fluid-Attenuated Inversion-Recovery(FLAIR) Sequence in Low Field MR of Cerebral Infarction

Objective: To evaluate the application of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequence to cerebral infarction in low field MR. Methods:75 cases with cerebral infarction were examined with MR FSE-T 2WI and FLAIR techniques.The detectable abilities of focus with FLAIR and FSE-T 2WI were compared.Results: 302 infarction foci were identified with MRI in 75 patients. FLAIR detected more foci than FSE (300 versus 242), its sensitivity was greater than FSE (99.34% versus 88.13%, P0.01).FLAIR was better than FSE for cortical, subcortical and periventrical foci both in sensitivity and in focus conspicuity. FLAIR displayed the foci of acute and subacute cerebral infarctions more clearly.Chronic infarctions demonstrated hypointensive center with hyperintensive rim or hypointensive plaque in FLAIR images.Conclusion:FLAIR sequence was superior to conventional FSE sequences to detect cortical, subcortical and periventrical cerebral infarctions;and also helpful to differentiate the acute infartions from chronic ones.FLAIR should become a conventional sequence in the diagnosis of cerebral infarction.