3.0 T imaging of brain tumours

Abstract

18.5 Conclusion: Combining metabolic, diffusion and haemodynamic information from 1H-MRSI, DWI and PWI with morphological information from conventional MRI undoubtedly improves the assessment of intracranial tumours, increasing the capability to discriminate between different tissues. Furthermore, using high-field MR can allow shorter imaging times for a given resolution, a higher resolution for a given imaging time, or combination of both, due to the higher SNR. Ashort acquisition time is preferable for the fast imaging of ill and sometimes poorly cooperative subjects, especially if long MR protocols are used. High spatial resolution allows high quality imaging and therefore additional diagnostic information. We suggest that the multiparametric MR approach, including 1H-MRSI, DWI and PWI in addition to conventional MRI, at 3 T may provide a non-invasive fast and accurate tool for the formulation of diagnosis and prognosis, the planning of treatment and the monitoring of therapeutic response in patients with brain tumours. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.