What is a medical FLAIR acquisition?

A medical FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery) acquisition is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used primarily to suppress the signal from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This allows for better visualization of brain lesions, such as those associated with multiple sclerosis, tumors, or other pathologies, by highlighting abnormalities in brain tissue. FLAIR imaging is particularly effective in identifying lesions in the periventricular and cortical regions, as it enhances the contrast between normal and abnormal tissues.