. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Nov 28.

Published in final edited form as: AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013 Sep;201(3):10.2214/AJR.12.9544. doi: 10.2214/AJR.12.9544

APPENDIX 1.

Brain Tumor Protocol

Standardized MRI ProtocolIn order of acquisition:

Localizer, scout
T1-weighted unenhanced (spin echo or gradient-recalled echo)
T2-weighted axial (fast spin-echo)
FLAIR (optional after contrast administration)
Diffusion-weighted or diffusion tensor imaging (for extraction of diffusion-weighted data trace and apparent diffusion coefficient from diffusion tensor imaging)^a
T1-weighted map (quantitation) for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI: 3D gradient-echo T1-weighted imaging or 2D turbo spin-echo of fast spin-echo T1-weighted imaging^a
T2*-weighted dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (after presaturation dynamic contrast-enhanced sequence)^a
T1-weighted contrast-enhanced sequence (spin echo or gradient-recalled echo)

Optional

Functional language, auditory, visual, motor testing, and MR spectroscopy^a

Comments

FLAIR can be performed before dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI
Susceptibility-weighted imaging and gradient-recalled echo as additional optional sequences^a

General Parameter Recommendations

Minimum slice thickness 5 mm
Target duration ≤ 30 min (maximum, 1.5–2.0 h)

Note—Protocol modified by Essig et al. [102] according to the framework of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) 6686 component of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0825 protocol [114].

Part of the ACRIN 6686 protocol but can be used as an adjunct in the clinical brain tumor protocol.