PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the nerve roots and peripheral nerves has been reported. We applied a sequence similar to brain diffusion tensor (DT) tractography to such a technique and assessed its feasibility. METHODS: On a 1.5-T MR system, we acquired DW images in the axial plane using a single-shot echo-planar short tau inversion-recovery (STIR)-based sequence. Motion-probing gradients (MPGs) were applied in 6 directions with a b-value of 500 s/mm(2). For postprocessing, we performed maximum-intensity projection to reconstruct the images. We obtained cervical spine images from 3 volunteers and 8 patients and thoracolumbar spine images from 3 volunteers and 6 patients. On the source images of the cervical spine obtained from the volunteers, we compared the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the neural structures between images obtained applying MPG in 6 directions and in 3 directions. We visually assessed the nerve roots and proximal portions of the contiguous peripheral nerves in the images from volunteers and patients. RESULTS: The SNRs were significantly superior in the images obtained with the application of MPGs in 6 directions to those obtained with the application of MPGs in 3 directions (P<0.01). Visual assessment demonstrated the nerve roots as well as the nerve ganglia and the contiguous peripheral nerves up to 3 cm or more from the respective neural foramina in each subject. Image distortion was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique provides neurographic images of the nerve roots and proximal portions of the contiguous peripheral nerves, and images obtained using our sequence applying MPGs in 6 directions are superior to those obtained in 3 directions.
PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the nerve roots and peripheral nerves has been reported. We applied a sequence similar to brain diffusion tensor (DT) tractography to such a technique and assessed its feasibility. METHODS: On a 1.5-T MR system, we acquired DW images in the axial plane using a single-shot echo-planar short tau inversion-recovery (STIR)-based sequence. Motion-probing gradients (MPGs) were applied in 6 directions with a b-value of 500 s/mm(2). For postprocessing, we performed maximum-intensity projection to reconstruct the images. We obtained cervical spine images from 3 volunteers and 8 patients and thoracolumbar spine images from 3 volunteers and 6 patients. On the source images of the cervical spine obtained from the volunteers, we compared the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the neural structures between images obtained applying MPG in 6 directions and in 3 directions. We visually assessed the nerve roots and proximal portions of the contiguous peripheral nerves in the images from volunteers and patients. RESULTS: The SNRs were significantly superior in the images obtained with the application of MPGs in 6 directions to those obtained with the application of MPGs in 3 directions (P<0.01). Visual assessment demonstrated the nerve roots as well as the nerve ganglia and the contiguous peripheral nerves up to 3 cm or more from the respective neural foramina in each subject. Image distortion was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique provides neurographic images of the nerve roots and proximal portions of the contiguous peripheral nerves, and images obtained using our sequence applying MPGs in 6 directions are superior to those obtained in 3 directions.
Authors: A Ailianou; A Fitsiori; A Syrogiannopoulou; S Toso; M Viallon; L Merlini; J Y Beaulieu; M I Vargas Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2012-02-28 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Taro Takahara; Jeroen Hendrikse; Thomas C Kwee; Tomohiro Yamashita; Marc Van Cauteren; Daniel Polders; Vincent Boer; Yutaka Imai; Willem P Th M Mali; Peter R Luijten Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2009-11-21 Impact factor: 5.315