Table 1.
Epilepsy outpatient-specific magnetic resonance imaging protocol: the “essential 6” sequences
| Sequence | Slice thickness (no gap) | Cut-plane orientation | Cut-plane angulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D-T1 | 1 mm isotropic | 3D | AC-PC |
| T2/STIR | ≤3 mm | Axial | HC |
| T2/ STIR | ≤3 mm | Coronal | HC |
| FLAIR | ≤3mma) | Axial | HC |
| FLAIR | ≤3 mma) | Coronal | HC |
| Hemo/calc | ≤3 mm | Axial | HCb) |
The above protocol is for a 1.5-T scanner. On a 3-T scanner, the slice thickness can be further decreased. The field of view of all sequences must cover the entire brain.
3D-T1, 3-dimensional T1; AC-PC, anterior commissure-posterior commissure; STIR, short T1 inversion recovery; HC, hippocampus; FLAIR, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery; Hemo/calc, hemosiderin- and calcium-sensitive.
a)
1-mm isotropic 3D-FLAIR.
b)
The ideal angulation of axial hemo-calc sequences is subject to further investigation.
Adapted from Wellmer et al. Epilepsia 2013;54:1977-87, with permission from John Wiley and Sons. [12]