FLAIR imaging is particularly useful in highlighting which types of pathologies?

FLAIR imaging is particularly effective in highlighting long T2 pathologies due to its unique ability to suppress the signals from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This suppression enhances the visibility of lesions and abnormalities that have long T2 relaxation times, such as those found in conditions like multiple sclerosis, demyelination, and other inflammatory diseases. In contrast, acute vascular events typically present with hyperacute or acute changes that are better observed using other sequences, such as diffusion-weighted imaging. Short T1 pathologies and calcified tissues do not produce the same high-sensitivity contrast on FLAIR images, making them less relevant in this context. Therefore, FLAIR imaging's suppression of CSF and enhancement of long T2 signals make it specifically advantageous for recognizing those types of pathologies.