Comparison of a T2* w. 3D CISS and a T2 w. 3D turbo spin echo sequence for the anatomical study of facial and vestibulocochlear nerves.

Thirty healthy volunteers were examined with a T2* w. 3D CISS and a T2 w. 3D turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence in order to compare the facial and vestibulocochlear nerve detectability in the cerebellopontine angle and the internal auditory canal. CISS was significantly better than 3D TSE for nerve detectability in the cerebellopontine angle and equally as good as 3D TSE in the internal auditory canal. We would therefore recommend the inclusion of CISS in an MR imaging protocol of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves.