Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Practice Test

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What type of sequences are performed to suppress CSF and aid in detecting demyelination?

Gradient echo sequences
FLAIR sequences
Fast spin echo sequences
Echo planar sequences

The correct answer is: FLAIR sequences

FLAIR (Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) sequences are specifically designed to suppress signals from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), making them highly effective for detecting lesions associated with demyelination in the brain. In a typical MRI scan, CSF appears bright due to its high water content, which can obscure important details in the surrounding brain tissue. FLAIR sequences utilize an inversion recovery technique that effectively nullifies the signal from the CSF, allowing for a clearer visualization of pathological changes, such as those seen in multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating conditions. This suppression of the CSF signal is crucial because demyelinating lesions often lie adjacent to or near CSF spaces, and without the FLAIR technique, they might go unnoticed. Other sequence types, while beneficial for their own purposes, do not provide the same level of CSF suppression that FLAIR does, which is essential for identifying subtle demyelination lesions.