Which sequence is typically used for imaging brain tumors due to its high sensitivity to water content?

The inversion recovery sequence is particularly effective in imaging brain tumors because of its high sensitivity to variations in water content, which is critical in differentiating between normal and pathological tissues. Tumors often have different water content compared to healthy brain tissues, and inversion recovery sequences can exploit these differences to enhance the contrast between the lesion and surrounding tissues.

This sequence is highly capable of nulling the signal from certain types of tissues, making it possible to highlight brain tumors more effectively. The fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence is a specific type of inversion recovery that is often utilized in brain imaging to suppress the signal from cerebrospinal fluid, making it easier to identify lesions located nearby.

The other sequences mentioned do have their own utilities in MRI imaging, but they do not offer the same level of sensitivity to water content as the inversion recovery sequence does specifically in the context of brain tumors. The spin-echo sequence is excellent for producing high-quality images and provides good tissue contrast, but it may not highlight differences in water content as effectively as inversion recovery.

Gradient-echo sequences are more commonly used for specific applications, such as evaluating hemorrhagic conditions or blood flow, rather than optimizing tumor contrast based on water content. Flash sequences, often referring to fast