Potential of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI as an alternative to contrast-enhanced MRI for oral and maxillofacial vascular malformations: experimental and clinical studies.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the potential of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging of oral and maxillofacial vascular malformations as an alternative to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the influence of differences in T1 and T2 values on image contrast in FLAIR images and evaluated the diagnostic utility of such images.

STUDY

DESIGN

FLAIR imaging and heavily T2-weighted (hT2-weighted) imaging were performed using a phantom. FLAIR and hT2-weighted images of 32 lesions (11 mucous cysts, 12 vascular malformations, and 9 tumors) were also studied retrospectively. The contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) and CNR change ratios were compared.

RESULTS

All aqueous solutions except those with a short T2 value were discriminated by CNR change ratio (P < .05). All 3 types of lesions were discriminated by CNR change ratio (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

FLAIR imaging has potential as an alternative to contrast-enhanced MRI in differentiating vascular malformations from other types of lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region.