Biomaterial Database

MR imaging of the normal meninges: comparison of contrast-enhancement patterns on 3D gradient-echo and spin-echo images. 1994

J W Farn, and S A Mirowitz

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (Jewish Hospital), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the enhancement pattern of the normal meninges on T1-weighted three-dimensional Fourier transform gradient-echo (3DGE) MR images and to compare this pattern with that observed on conventional two-dimensional Fourier transform spin-echo (2DSE) images. This will serve as a basis for comparison when cases of suspected meningeal pathology are evaluated. METHODS The appearance of the normal meninges after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine was evaluated on 2DSE and 3DGE images in 69 patients who had no known or suspected meningeal abnormality. The total percentage of meningeal surface area that underwent contrast enhancement and the continuity of meningeal enhancement were evaluated at four anatomic levels. RESULTS In most patients, 2DSE images showed short segments (i.e., < 3 cm) of meningeal enhancement, with enhancement of less than 50% of total meningeal surface area. However, enhancement of 76-100% of total meningeal surface area was routinely observed on 3DGE images, with long segments (i.e., > 3 cm) or continuous patterns most frequently observed. The differences between 2DSE and 3DGE sequences were statistically significant for all regions that were assessed. CONCLUSIONS Continuous meningeal enhancement or enhancement of long segments of normal meninges is routinely observed on contrast-enhanced 3DGE images; this appearance differs from those of enhanced 2DSE images and should not be interpreted as abnormal.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007089	Image Enhancement	Improvement of the quality of a picture by various techniques, including computer processing, digital filtering, echocardiographic techniques, light and ultrastructural MICROSCOPY, fluorescence spectrometry and microscopy, scintigraphy, and in vitro image processing at the molecular level.	Image Quality Enhancement,Enhancement, Image,Enhancement, Image Quality,Enhancements, Image,Enhancements, Image Quality,Image Enhancements,Image Quality Enhancements,Quality Enhancement, Image,Quality Enhancements, Image
D007091	Image Processing, Computer-Assisted	A technique of inputting two-dimensional or three-dimensional images into a computer and then enhancing or analyzing the imagery into a form that is more useful to the human observer.	Biomedical Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Processing,Digital Image Processing,Image Analysis, Computer-Assisted,Image Reconstruction,Medical Image Processing,Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image,Computer-Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Analyses,Image Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Image Analysis, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Biomedical,Image Processing, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Digital,Image Processing, Medical,Image Processings, Medical,Image Reconstructions,Medical Image Processings,Processing, Biomedical Image,Processing, Digital Image,Processing, Medical Image,Processings, Digital Image,Processings, Medical Image,Reconstruction, Image,Reconstructions, Image
D008279	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques.	Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008297	Male		Males
D008536	Meglumine	1-Deoxy-1-(methylamino)-D-glucitol. A derivative of sorbitol in which the hydroxyl group in position 1 is replaced by a methylamino group. Often used in conjunction with iodinated organic compounds as contrast medium.	Methylglucamine
D008578	Meninges	The three membranes that cover the BRAIN and the SPINAL CORD. They are the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009942	Organometallic Compounds	A class of compounds of the type R-M, where a C atom is joined directly to any other element except H, C, N, O, F, Cl, Br, I, or At. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Metallo-Organic Compound,Metallo-Organic Compounds,Metalloorganic Compound,Organometallic Compound,Metalloorganic Compounds,Compound, Metallo-Organic,Compound, Metalloorganic,Compound, Organometallic,Compounds, Metallo-Organic,Compounds, Metalloorganic,Compounds, Organometallic,Metallo Organic Compound,Metallo Organic Compounds
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D003287	Contrast Media	Substances used to allow enhanced visualization of tissues.	Radiopaque Media,Contrast Agent,Contrast Agents,Contrast Material,Contrast Materials,Radiocontrast Agent,Radiocontrast Agents,Radiocontrast Media,Agent, Contrast,Agent, Radiocontrast,Agents, Contrast,Agents, Radiocontrast,Material, Contrast,Materials, Contrast,Media, Contrast,Media, Radiocontrast,Media, Radiopaque