Subarachnoid space disease: diagnosis with fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR imaging and comparison with gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo MR imaging--blinded reader study.

Abstract

FLAIR is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of SAS disease. Unenhanced FLAIR is superior to gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging for the diagnosis of SAS disease. These data have important implications, because FLAIR is performed without the costs and inherent risks of intravenous contrast agents. FLAIR also appears to be highly sensitive but nonspecific for acute SAH.