Seong Jong Yun1, Chang-Woo Ryu2, Geon-Ho Jahng1, Eui Jong Kim3, Woo Suk Choi3, Kyung Mi Lee3, Sun Mi Kim4. 1. Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, 149, Sangil-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, Korea. 2. Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, 149, Sangil-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, Korea. Electronic address: md.cwryu@gmail.com. 3. Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-702, Korea. 4. Department of Radiology, Asan Medical center, Pungnap 2-dong Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared with 2-dimensional imaging, 3D-reformatted imaging is a valuable technique that offers improved anatomic accuracy with minimal flow artifact and thinner sections without gaps between slices. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of CE 3D T1-VISTA with fat suppression sequences compared with CE T1-TSE with fat suppression sequences in patients with facial neuritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 32 consecutive patients who underwent IAC MR imaging for Bell's palsy. IAC MR scanning, including CE T1-VISTA and CE T1-TSE, was performed in all patients using a 3T scanner. The order of the scans was random. Signal intensity was measured at three segments (canalicular, labyrinthine, and anterior genu) of the facial nerve by drawing a ROI along the affected side and the normal side in each segment. We compared the quantitative CR of the two MR sequences with paired t-tests. RESULTS: In all three segments, the lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA (canalicular: 2.32; labyrinthine: 2.22; anterior genu: 1.97) were greater than those on CE T1-TSE (canalicular: 2.17; labyrinthine: 1.72; anterior genu: 1.68). The labyrinthine and anterior genu segments had significantly higher lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA in patients with facial neuritis (labyrinthine: P<0.001; anterior genu: P=0.002). CONCLUSION: CE 3D T1-VISTA was superior to CE T1-TSE in terms of image contrast between lesions and the normal facial nerve.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared with 2-dimensional imaging, 3D-reformatted imaging is a valuable technique that offers improved anatomic accuracy with minimal flow artifact and thinner sections without gaps between slices. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of CE 3D T1-VISTA with fat suppression sequences compared with CE T1-TSE with fat suppression sequences in patients with facial neuritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 32 consecutive patients who underwent IAC MR imaging for Bell's palsy. IAC MR scanning, including CE T1-VISTA and CE T1-TSE, was performed in all patients using a 3T scanner. The order of the scans was random. Signal intensity was measured at three segments (canalicular, labyrinthine, and anterior genu) of the facial nerve by drawing a ROI along the affected side and the normal side in each segment. We compared the quantitative CR of the two MR sequences with paired t-tests. RESULTS: In all three segments, the lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA (canalicular: 2.32; labyrinthine: 2.22; anterior genu: 1.97) were greater than those on CE T1-TSE (canalicular: 2.17; labyrinthine: 1.72; anterior genu: 1.68). The labyrinthine and anterior genu segments had significantly higher lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA in patients with facial neuritis (labyrinthine: P<0.001; anterior genu: P=0.002). CONCLUSION: CE 3D T1-VISTA was superior to CE T1-TSE in terms of image contrast between lesions and the normal facial nerve.