Pathological contrast enhancement in different brain diseases in synthetic T1-weigthed images derived from 3D quantitative transient imaging

Contrast enhancement, a marker of blood-brain barrier breakdown and active inflammation, provides crucial information in brain disease. Quantitative Transient Imaging (QTI) enables robust quantitative T1, T2 and PD mapping. 30 patients with brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and limbic encephalitis underwent a 3T-MRI brain exam which included conventional T1-weighted and QTI sequences acquired before and after contrast media administration. Synthetic T1-weighted images were obtained from the QTI maps. At radiological inspection, all pathological contrast enhancements in conventional images were visible in the synthetic T1-weighted images obtained from postcontrast QTI and showed the same patterns of contrast enhancement.