Table 2 MRI protocol for cranial and spinal MRI

Cranial MRI

Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), 3D 1 mm isotropic or less

Magnetization Prepared Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo

(MPRAGE, or other 3D T1-weighted gradient echo sequence) 1 mm isotropic or less

T2 Turbo Spin Echo/Fast Spin Echo (TSE), 2D axial, 5 mm or less (alternative: 3D T2),

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI), axial, 5 mm or less

Optional:

 MPRAGE (or other 3D T1-weighted sequence) + contrast agent,

 T1 Spin Echo (SE) + contrast agent

 Double Inversion Recovery (DIR) 1.0–1.5 mm isotropic

 T2 TSE, 2D sagittal

Spinal MRI

1.5 T:

 Sagittal T2 TSE 2.5 mm, axial T2 TSE 4 mm or less (covering the whole spinal cord)

3 T:

 Sagittal T2 TSE 2.5 mm or less, axial T2 TSE 4 mm or less (covering the whole spinal cord); optional: T1 sagittal −/ + contrast agent, T1 axial −/+ contrast agent