<![CDATA[Optimal image quality is essential in MRI, and although T2-Weighted Turbo Spin Echo (T2W TSE) provides excellent tissue detail, its 5-mm slice thickness may limit the visualization of small anatomical structures, whereas T2-Weighted 3D VISTA, with 1-mm isotropic voxels, offers higher spatial resolution and multiplanar reconstruction; therefore, this quantitative comparative study aimed to compare the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) of T2W 3D VISTA and T2W TSE sequences in sagittal lumbar MRI using a Philips Achieva 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, involving 15 patients examined with both sequences, with Regions of Interest (ROIs) placed on the spinal cord, spinous processes, cerebrospinal fluid, intervertebral discs, interspinous ligaments, and vertebral bodies, followed by statistical analysis using the Paired Samples T-Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The results showed significant SNR differences in the vertebral bodies (p<0.001), spinous processes (p=0.022), intervertebral discs (p=0.002), and spinal cord (p=0.050), with T2W TSE generally demonstrating higher signal intensity, while no significant differences were found in CSF (p=0.491) or interspinous ligaments (p=0.256). CNR analysis revealed no significant differences between the two sequences across all anatomical structures (p>0.05), indicating comparable intertissue contrast. However, Wilcoxon mean rank analysis showed that T2W 3D VISTA tended to be superior for intervertebral discs, vertebral bodies, and spinous processes due to its higher spatial resolution, whereas T2W TSE tended to be superior for the spinal cord and interspinous ligaments due to its stronger signal intensity and contrast.]]>
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