Jaeseok Park1, Eung Yeop Kim1,2
1Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; 2Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional T1-weighted MR imaging based on magnetization-prepared-rapid-gradient-recalled-echo (MP-RAGE), has been shown to be sensitive for the detection of small brain metastases due to the T1-shortening effect of contrast agent. However, since contrast agent remains in blood and tumors, and thus increases signal intensity in both parts, it is challenging to accurately detect the brain tumors using the conventional method. The purpose of this work was to develop a novel contrast-enhanced 3D whole-brain black-blood imaging method which enhances the signal intensity of brain tumor while selectively suppressing that of blood, and thus enhance the accuracy of diagnosis for small brain metastases