Miranda Bautista J, Garrido Morro I, Fernández García P, Herrera Herrera I. FLAIR hyperintensity in the subarachnoid space: Main differentials.
Radiologia (Engl Ed) 2024;
66:78-89. [PMID:
38365357 DOI:
10.1016/j.rxeng.2022.01.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence forms part of the vast majority of current diagnostic protocols for brain MRI. This sequence enables the suppression of the signal from cerebrospinal fluid, facilitating the detection of disease involving the subarachnoid space. The causes of hyperintensity in the arachnoid space in this sequence can be divided into two main categories: hyperintensity due to disease and hyperintensity due to artifacts. Hyperintensity due to tumors, inflammation, vascular disease, or hypercellularity of the cerebrospinal fluid or hematic contents is well known. However, numerous other non-pathological conditions, mainly due to artifacts, that are also associated with this finding are a potential source of diagnostic errors.
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