Contrast Enhanced MR FLAIR Imaging of Meningeal Disease

Objective To discuss the value of contrast enhanced fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) in meningeal disease by comparing with unenhanced FLAIR and contrast enhanced T1 weighted imaging.Materials and Methods 19 patients with meningitis and 10 patients with meningeal carcinomatosis underwent T1W imaging and FLAIR with and without intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine.The presence and conspicuity of meningeal disease on contrast enhanced FLAIR images were compared with unenhanced FLAIR images and contrast-enhanced T1W images.Results The sensitivity of unenhanced FLAIR images,contrast enhanced T1W images and contrast enhanced FLAIR images were 42.1%,73.7% and 89.5% in meningitis,and were 30%,80% and 100% in meningeal carcinomatosis.All positive cases on unenhanced FLAIR images were also positive and wider in extent on contrast enhanced FLAIR images.In 22 cases with meningeal disease which were positive on contrast-enhanced T1W images,contrast enhanced FLAIR images were superior in 10 cases,contrast enhanced T1W images were superior in 9 cases,and equal in 3 cases on both MR sequence.Conclu-sion Contrast enhanced FLAIR imaging is very useful in the detection of meningeal disease,which combining with contrast enhanced T1W imaging can improve the detection of meningiopathy.