MRI of central nervous system: early clinical results

In patients with central nervous system problems, a comparison of the results obtained with high-field MRI (1.5 T) to those achieved with more conventional imaging studies, primarily CT, reveals significant improvement in the demonstration of various abnormalities by MRI (56.5%), with increased specificity in some (29.5%). High-field MRI provides advantages over CT by providing both multiplanar images and superior contrast resolution. The diagnostic specificity of MRI is increased when acute, subacute, and chronic hematomas are visualized and when flowing blood within vessels is demonstrated in addition to the location and extent of the disease process. In this series, MRI produced a more accurate diagnosis in 8.7% of cases, revealed clinically unexpected abnormalities in 3.9% of cases, and was less invasive or avoided the risk of complications in 17.4% of cases. Despite the success of MRI, CT continues to play an important role in demonstrating calcification and contrast enhancement, and in evaluating patients in whom MRI is contraindicated or impossible because of an unsuitable clinical state.