Methods: MRT

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 178 - 184
• Main Authors: Lenz, M, Greess, H, Dobritz, M, Kersting-Sommerhoff, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2000
• Subjects: Contrast Media; Edema - diagnosis; Gadolinium DTPA; Guidelines as Topic; Head and neck neoplasm; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Humans; Image enhancement; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medical imaging; Methods; Neck; Oncology; Time Factors; Head and neck neoplasm; Neck; Magnetic resonance imaging; Methods; Contrast media
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0720-048X(99)00141-2

MRI has become the imaging method of choice in special regions of the head and neck (e.g. nasopharynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, floor of the mouth). Superconducting MR-equipment with field strengths of 1.0–1.5 T are appropriate for the evaluation of the head and neck region.. Signal acquisition is optimal with circular polarized head coils or with specially designed surface coils; the body coil is insufficient. When imaging tumors we need T1 contrast, T2 contrast and contrast medium information (enhancement information). For the T1 contrast T1-spin-echo is and remains the best sequence. For T2-contast T2 turbo-spin-echo with fat suppression has replaced the T2 spin-echo sequences because it is faster and shows good contrast between tumor and saturated fat tissue. Fat saturated T1 turbo-spin-echo enables best tissue contrast after Gd-DTPA application.