In T2-weighted MRI, which statement is true?

In T2-weighted MRI, which statement is true?

• A. CSF appears dark
• B. It uses no matrix to image
• C. CSF appears brighter
• D. It best visualizes bone injuries

Answer: (C)

In T2-weighted MRI, fluids with long T2 relaxation times stand out by retaining signal longer, so CSF appears bright on the image. This contrast makes fluids and edema easy to see against the surrounding brain tissue, where signals decay more quickly and look darker. The statement that CSF would appear dark is not true for T2 weighting—it aligns with T1 weighting, where fluids are typically dark. The idea that MRI uses no matrix to image isn’t correct either; image formation relies on sampling the signal with a defined matrix. For bone injuries, MRI isn’t the best modality—the cortex shows up poorly compared with CT, which is usually superior for cortical bone evaluation.

In T2-weighted MRI, fluids with long T2 relaxation times stand out by retaining signal longer, so CSF appears bright on the image. This contrast makes fluids and edema easy to see against the surrounding brain tissue, where signals decay more quickly and look darker. The statement that CSF would appear dark is not true for T2 weighting—it aligns with T1 weighting, where fluids are typically dark. The idea that MRI uses no matrix to image isn’t correct either; image formation relies on sampling the signal with a defined matrix. For bone injuries, MRI isn’t the best modality—the cortex shows up poorly compared with CT, which is usually superior for cortical bone evaluation.