Neuro Case Study

SENSE High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

June 21, 2002

Courtesy: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Dr. Kei Yamada

This patient had undergone gamma knife therapy for an AVM. During the follow up over a few years, the cystic mass (that was thought to be post gamma knife change) increased in size. This type of reactive cystic degeneration is unusual, but is known to occur occasionally after gamma knife therapy.

As a result, a neurosurgical evacuation of the mass was scheduled. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) exam shown here was performed for pre-surgery planning.

The key feature of this fibertracking result was the relationship between the motor tracts and the mass lesion. The results showed that the tracts and mass were separated, indicating that complete evacuation of the mass was possible without damaging the patient's motor functions.

In this examination, SENSE was used to achieve high resolution DTI, with a resolution of 2 x 2 x 2.5 mm3 . This quality of DTI is only possible using very short EPI echo train lengths, which are possible using SENSE. Also note the superior image quality in the regular clinical scans, a result of the improved SNR of the SENSE Head Coil (WIP). SENSE in this exam was performed with the SENSE Head Coil (WIP).

High-resolution isotropic diffusion weighted scans of full tensor acquisition
Outstanding image quality in short scan time of 4:23 minutes using SENSE x2 Philips SENSE Head Coil (WIP)

3D Fibertracking movie Click on image to download zip file and view movie. (708kb)
SENSE x2 Scan time 4:23 min Philips SENSE Head Coil (WIP)

FLAIR Outstanding distinction of pathology and fluid.
Very short scan times due to SENSE x2 Philips SENSE Head Coil (WIP)