Salil Soman1, Samantha J. Holdsworth2,
Patrick David Barnes1, Roland Bammer2, Kristen Yeom1
1Department of Radiology,
Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; 2Department of
Radiology, Lucas Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
Susceptibility Weighted imaging (SWI) utilizes 3D gradient echo (GRE) acquisition post-processing to accentuate blood products, but takes up to 10 minutes, (compared to the 2-3 minutes for conventional 2D GRE ), limiting its utility. We performed SWI post processing on 50 conventional 2D GRE studies and found more than half demonstrated either additional or more conspicuous findings. We also found the SWI phase unwrapped image could help distinguish hemorrhage from calcification. COnventional 2D GRE findings such as venous thromboses were less distinctive on SWI processed images due to increased conspicuity of thrombosed and non thrombosed venous structures. Overall, we found the SWI post processed technique of 2D GRE sequences enhanced clinical utility.