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[MRT of extracranial hematomas at 1.5 T using spin echo and gradient echo sequences]
R P Spielmann1, H J Triebel, R Maas
1Radiologische Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg.
Abstract:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T was performed in 25 extracranial haematomas using spin-echo (SE) and fast-field-echo (FFE) sequences. The age of the haematomas was in 11 cases less than 2 days and in 9 cases more than 14 days. Fresh haematomas were isointense to skeletal muscle on T1-weighted SE images. With T2-weighted SE sequences, fresh haematomas had high signal intensity on the first day, but became inhomogeneous with predominantly low signal intensity on the following days. Areas of low signal intensity could be demonstrated by T2-weighted FFE sequences already on the first day after bleeding. Subacute haematomas were recognised by their high signal intensity on the T1-weighted SE images. Also with T2-weighted SE and FFE sequences, subacute haematomas showed increasingly high signal intensity. The characteristic appearance of haematomas facilitates their identification with MRI.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effectively identifies extracranial hematomas. Different MRI sequences reveal distinct signal intensities based on hematoma age, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroimaging
Context:
- Extracranial hematomas present diagnostic challenges.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers advanced visualization capabilities.
- Understanding MRI signal characteristics is crucial for accurate hematoma assessment.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the utility of 1.5 T MRI using spin-echo (SE) and fast-field-echo (FFE) sequences for characterizing extracranial hematomas.
- To correlate MRI findings with hematoma age.
Summary:
- Fresh hematomas (<2 days) were isointense on T1-weighted SE images and showed high signal intensity initially on T2-weighted SE, becoming inhomogeneous with low signal intensity later.
- Subacute hematomas (>14 days) exhibited high signal intensity on T1-weighted SE and progressively increasing high signal intensity on T2-weighted SE and FFE sequences.
- FFE sequences could detect low signal intensity areas in fresh hematomas earlier than SE sequences.
Impact:
- MRI's characteristic appearances facilitate the identification and characterization of extracranial hematomas.
- This study enhances the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in managing hematoma cases.
- Provides valuable insights for radiologists interpreting hematoma imaging