[Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in the area of the cranial base]

Short TR (time repetition) and TE (time echo) images usually display pathologic structures unsatisfactorily. Tumors appear larger in MR than in computer tomography (CT). Additional examinations with intensive x-ray exposure are not necessary, as the better soft tissue contrast in MR allows for a distinct demarcation of the pathologic structure. T2-weighted images of brain stem angioma and pinealoma are not better than T1-weighted images. In the skull-base area, the sagittal plane best displays the anatomical-pathological relationship. The second plane is necessary for three-dimensional demarcation. On the second plane, the use of identical sequences is helpful, as the optical comparison of light intensity in pathologic tissue is easier.