1Department
of Veterinary Clinical Service,
Chonbuk National University Specialized Campus : 79 Gobong-ro,
Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do 54596 Republic of Korea;
2Research Ethics Center Office of Research
Management, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea; 3College of health sciences, Radiologic science,
Cheongju University, 298, Daesung-ro, Sandang-gu , Cheongju, 360-764
Republic of Korea *Corresponding author:
kclee@jbnu.ac.kr
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation of
intracranial hemorrhage is often challenging due to the variable appearance of
hemorrhage, which depends on multiple factors. The aim of this study was to
establish MR appearance of cerebral hemorrhages in dogs using low magnetic field
and the efficacy of T2*-Gradient echo sequence for hemorrhage detection. Eight
clinically normal beagle dogs, weighing approximately 9kg each were used. After
a baseline MR examination, an intracranial hematoma was produced. MR examination
was performed just after development of hemorrhage model and then at 1 to 2 day
intervals for 30 days using low field MR (0.25 T). Sagittal images were acquired
to select reproducible slice positions for transverse images. Sequences include
spin echo (SE) T2, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), short tau
inversion recovery, SE T1, and T2*-Gradient echo (GRE) images. The acquired MR
images were compared subjectively to evaluate the signal changes.
Signal-to-noise ratio was also measured and compared. Signal of the lesion was
significantly hypo-intense in STIR and hyper-intense in T1W at day 3 after
hemo-rrhage creation. The signal intensity of the hemorrhage gradually decreased
in T1W images from day 3 to day 20. On T2W and FLAIR images, signal intensity
was hyper-intense compared to normal and decreased gradually. No significant
hypo-intense signal was seen on T2*-GRE image during examination of hemorrhage.
This study shows that signal changes in intracranial hemorrhage do not follow
the guidelines for hemorrhage interpretation in T1W and T2W images using low
field magnets, except acute stage. T2*-GRE imaging maybe less useful in
hemorrhage detection.
Key words:
Canine cerebral hemorrhages,Dog,
Gradient echo sequences,
Low field,
Magnetic resonance, Signal