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- Title
ACCURACY OF FLUID-ATTENUATED INVERSION RECOVERY (FLAIR) SEQUENCE OVER COMPLETE SEQUENCE OF MRI BRAIN IN DETECTING LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH HEADACHE AND WITHOUT ANY NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT.
- Authors
W. J., Wan Daizyreena; J., Win Mar@Salmah; A., Mohd Shafie; A., Noreen Norfaraheen
- Abstract
Introduction: The objectives of this study were to determine accuracy of FLAIR sequence in detecting abnormalities in patients with headache and normal neurological examination and the associations between these abnormalities and other health problems. Method: A cross-sectional study of 143 patients with headache and without any neurological deficit aged 13 years old and above were included. All patients underwent MRI examination of brain in Hospital University Sains Malaysia to investigate the causes for their headache. For each case, FLAIR series and complete series were reported separately at different times. Two radiologists were involved. Results: Prevalence of intracranial abnormalities detected by FLAIR was between 13.3 - 27.3%. Sensitivity was 92.9% and specificity of 83.9%. Age more than 40 years, experiencing headache less than 24 weeks and hypertension were found to have association with abnormalities detected. The intracranial abnormalities detected by FLAIR were white matter lesions, meningioma, teratoma, meningoencephalitis and intracranial haemorrhages. On the other hand, FLAIR could not detect a small subependymal nodule and arachnoid cyst in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces and a small infratentorial lipoma. Conclusion: FLAIR is sensitive enough in detecting intracranial abnormalities. However, cystic or fatty lesion in CSF spaces might be missed. FLAIR can be used as a screening sequence in patients with headache and normal neurological examination with much shorter period of time compared to normal brain sequences. This will effectively increased the number of patients examination per day in MRI suite.
- Subjects
MALAYSIA; MAGNETIC resonance imaging of the brain; HEADACHE; NEUROLOGY; RADIOLOGISTS; MENINGIOMA; HYPERTENSION
- Publication
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2007, Vol 14, p65
- ISSN
1394-195X
- Publication type
Article