T2-weighted imaging
Pronunciation: tee-two weighted
MRI sequence sensitive to tissue water content, useful for detecting myocardial edema and inflammation.
Full Definition
T2-weighted imaging is a magnetic resonance imaging sequence that provides tissue contrast based on T2 relaxation properties, making it particularly sensitive to increases in tissue water content. In cardiac imaging, T2-weighted sequences are primarily used to detect myocardial edema, which appears as increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images. This technique is valuable for identifying acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and other inflammatory conditions affecting the myocardium. Short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences are commonly used T2-weighted techniques that suppress fat signal while highlighting areas of increased water content.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from T2 mapping which provides quantitative measurements; hyphenate 'T2-weighted'.
In Context
- "T2-weighted imaging demonstrated hyperintense signal in the anteroseptal myocardium consistent with edema." — Cardiac MRI report
- "The presence of myocardial edema was confirmed on T2-weighted STIR images." — MRI interpretation