[Spinal cord MRI in multiple sclerosis: comparison of turbo-spin echo sequences and turbo-MRI].

Unlabelled: To compare T2-weighted turbo spin-echo (turboSE) and turbo inversion recovery magnitude (turboIRM) sequences in the detection of multiple sclerosis of the spinal cord.

Methods: 28 patients with clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis and signs of cervical cord involvement were examined on a 1.5 tesla MR system. Sagittal T2-weighted turboSE sequences were followed by sagittal turboIRM sequences. 24 patients also underwent a cranial study.

Results: Using turboIRM sequence, all the patients showed at least one spinal cord plaque with a total of 91 plaques. Using turboSE sequence, 61 lesions were identified in 25 patients. Spinal plaques were seen best on turboIRM sequences with a higher contrast between the lesion and the normal spinal cord. In 10 patients with cord plaques in both sequences, the cranial study was normal or non conclusive.

Conclusions: The turboIRM sequences detect more cord lesions and with a better contrast than the turboSE sequence. This results confirm those described in other studies and demonstrate the inadequacy of the fast spin echo sequences. Assessment of spinal plaques is particularly important when MR findings of the brain are negative or non conclusive.