Comparison of T1wFLAIR and T1wTSE sequences in imaging the brain of small animals using high-field MRI.

T1wFLAIR provides better CNR with better WM-GM and WM-CSF definition both pre- and post-contrast compared to T1wTSE albeit with a higher degree of noise; this was confirmed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Our results also suggest that T1wFLAIR is better for lesion detection and margination pre-contrast administration and sequences are relatively equivocal post-gadolinium administration although further research is required to determine the benefit that inversion recovery sequences make when investigating brain lesions in small animal MRI.