Fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR imaging in assessment of intracranial oligodendrogliomas

This retrospective study consisted of 17 consecutive patients with oligodendrogliomas. We qualitatively and quantitatively assessed the diagnostic value of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) images compared with T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) images for evaluating intracranial oligodendrogliomas. Qualitative evaluations of signal intensity, tumor conspicuity, definition of tumor margin, distinction between solid and cystic-like parts within tumor, and calcification were performed. Quantitative criteria comparing FLAIR to T2-weighted FSE images included tumor-to-background contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and tumor-to-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contrast and CNR. Our results demonstrate that the FLAIR sequence can replace the T2-weighted FSE sequence for evaluating oligodendrogliomas.