[MRT of the female pelvis: turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences compared to conventional spin-echo sequences at 0.5 tesla]

Markedly T2-weighted MR images of the pelvis can be obtained with TSE sequences using short acquisition times. In order to determine whether TSE sequences at 0.5 Tesla produce diagnostically valuable images, 9 normals and 53 patients with suspected gynaecological tumours were examined with TSE and SE sequences. Visual comparison showed a considerable superiority of the TSE sequences in most respects. The quality of the TSE images was regarded as very good in 82% and good in 18% (SE sequences: 27% very good, 55% good, 18% moderate), delineation of anatomical structures 81% very good and 19% good (SE sequence: 31% very good, 53% good, 16% moderate). TSE sequences were also superior in the detection of pathological changes (87% very good, 13% good) compared with SE sequences (56% very good, 37% good, 7% moderate). Venous plexuses in the parametrium were better demonstrated by SE sequences. There were significantly higher signal to noise ratios (SNR) with TSE sequences for fat, bone marrow (each p < 0.001), and urine (p < 0.05). Using muscle as reference tissue, there were significantly higher signal-difference to noise ratios (SDR) for fat (p < 0.001), and bone marrow (p < 0.0001), the other pelvic organs and tumours showed no significant differences between the SNR and SDR. TSE sequences are well suited to replace SE sequences in the MR diagnosis of gynaecological tumours.