Fat suppression

Principle and interpretation

STIR, spectral methods and Dixon use different principles. Fat suppression can make edema or enhancement more conspicuous but is not itself an abnormal finding.

Indications, limitations and precautions

Uneven suppression can mimic a lesion. Technique selection depends on region, magnetic field, metal and possible contrast use; sequences are not interchangeable.

Points to consider

An investigation is selected to answer a specific question about bone, neural tissue, metabolic activity or vessels, for example. Techniques provide different information. Preparation and precautions vary by protocol; follow the imaging service’s instructions.

Role of TAGMED care

At TAGMED, assessment aims to understand symptoms, history and functional limitations. Manual care and osteopathy, motorized spinal decompression, laser and shockwave have different indications. The term described in this entry is not enough to select any of these modalities. Their relevance, limitations and possible contraindications should be discussed in relation to diagnosis and individual goals.

Related concepts and distinctions

These concepts belong to the same field, but are not synonyms.

• T2-star-weighted sequence — MRI sequence sensitive to dephasing from local magnetic-field variation, including effects from blood products or metal.
• Dixon sequence — MRI method using the frequency difference between water and fat signals to generate separated or combined images.
• Apparent diffusion coefficient — Parameter calculated from diffusion images describing apparent water mobility in tissue, often displayed as an ADC map.

Medical references

1. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
2. American College of Radiology / RSNA, RadiologyInfo. Spine MRI.

References document the topic; their inclusion does not imply endorsement of TAGMED services by those organizations.