Application of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences in low field strength MRI of the brain

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of FLAIR sequences in low field MRI of the brain.Methods:247 patients with brain diseases were studied with MR FSE-T 2WI and FLAIR technique.The detectable abilities of lesions with FLAIR and FSE-T 2WI were compared.Results:516 lesions were identified with MRI in 247 patients. The FLAIR imaging showed 508 lesions(98.44%), but the FSE-T 2WI only showed 436 lesions (84.50%).The difference is statistically significant (P0.01).280 lesions were clear with FLAIR in demonstrating the intrinsic structure and border of lesions, and 120 ones with FSE-T 2WI. Therefore, the FLAIR imagings were superior to FSE-T 2WI in demonstrating the intrinsic structure and border of lesions (P0.01).Conclusion:In low field MR of the brain, FLAIR was superior to conventional FSE-T 2 weighted sequence for patients with brain diseases. It is useful to improve the detection of the lesions and demonstrate the intrinsic structure and border of lesions clearly. FLAIR can be used as a conventional sequence of the examination in MRI of the brain.