Fat suppression

Suppression of fat tissue is one of the many options that can be used in an MRI sequence. In virtually all abdominal MRI examinations, suppressing the fat tissue signal is advisable. The created low signal intensity of fat then contrasts more strongly with the vessels & pathology (high signal intensity!). Also in skeletal imaging, it may be useful to make a sequence with fat suppression. Bone marrow contains fat and may mask bone marrow edema on a T2 weighted image. There are several technical options to suppress fat tissue. Frequently used sequences are the STIR (short-tau inversion recovery) and the SPIR (spectral pre-saturation inversion recovery) sequences. Both are T2 weighted images. 

You can also recognize fat suppression by the abbreviation FatSat, meaning Fat Saturation (e.g. T2wFatSat).

Tip: you can easily recognize fat suppression by looking at the subcutaneous fat (fig. 19). When it has a low signal, you are looking at a fat suppression sequence. The technique may be used ‘as extra’ in T1, T2 and PD weighted images.