ABSTRACT
Gradient-echo [GRE] -weighted imaging [T2*WI] has higher sensitivity than do other MRI sequences used for detecting cerebral hemorrhage as it is sensitive to magnetic field in homogeneity induced by the presence of the paramagnetic breakdown products of blood. Diffusion weighted [DWI] b0 image obtained with DWI imposes no additional time and could be used for detection of hemorrhage. An Echo-planner Imaging [EPI] is intrinsically sensitive to magnetic field in homogeneity, paramagnetic blood breakdown products, it produces signal loss similar to that in T2*WI. The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of b0 EPI image obtained from diffusion weighted sequence for detection of intracerebral hemorrhage. The study included 26 patients from Ain-Shams specialized hospital with different stages of intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH]. All patients had MRI examination including DWI including b0 image, T2*WI, TIWI, T2WI, Fluid attenuation inversion recovery sequence [FLAIR], and MRA. Radiologists reviewed the images of the examinations independently in a blinded fashion, followed by a final consensus reading. The sensitivity of hemorrhage detection, conspicuity of lesions, and diagnostic certainty were compared between the b0 EPI and GRE T2*WI sequences. b0 image was 100% sensitive in detecting different stages of intracerebral hemorrhage in the study sample [acute, subacute and chronic]. b0 image was as equal to T2*WI in detection of hemorrhage in 92.30% of cases [24 cases out of 26], in one patient b0 detected hemorrhage more clearly than T2* WI, while in the remaining patient T2*WI detected hemorrhage more clearly than b0 image. b0 EPI is as sensitive as T2*WI in detecting different stages of intracerebral hemorrhage