Sophie C Queler1, Ek Tsoon Tan1, Christian Geannette1, Martin Prince2, Darryl B Sneag3. 1. Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA. 2. Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 535 E. 70th St., New York, NY, 10021, USA. 3. Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA. sneagd@hss.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ferumoxytol-enhanced vascular suppression for visualizing branch nerves of the brachial plexus in magnetic resonance (MR) neurography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Signal simulations were performed to determine ferumoxytol's effect on nerve-, fat-, and blood-to-muscle contrast and to optimize pulse sequence parameters. Prospective, in vivo assessment included 10 subjects with chronic anemia who underwent a total of 19 (9 bilateral) pre- and post-infusion brachial plexus exams using three-dimensional (3D), T2-weighted short-tau inversion recovery (T2-STIR) sequences at 3.0 T. Two musculoskeletal radiologists qualitatively rated sequences for the degree of vascular suppression and brachial plexus branch nerve conspicuity. Nerve-to-muscle, -fat, and -vessel contrast ratios were measured. RESULTS: Quantitative nerve/muscle and nerve/small vessel contrast ratios (CRs) increased with ferumoxytol (p < 0.05). Qualitative vascular suppression and suprascapular nerve visualization improved following ferumoxytol administration for both raters (p < .05). Pre- and post-ferumoxytol exams demonstrated moderate to near-perfect inter-rater agreement for nerve visualization and diagnostic confidence for the suprascapular and axillary nerves but poor to no agreement for the long thoracic nerve. CONCLUSION: Ferumoxytol in T2-weighted brachial plexus MR neurography provides robust vascular suppression and aids visualization of the suprascapular nerve in volunteers without neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ferumoxytol-enhanced vascular suppression for visualizing branch nerves of the brachial plexus in magnetic resonance (MR) neurography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Signal simulations were performed to determine ferumoxytol's effect on nerve-, fat-, and blood-to-muscle contrast and to optimize pulse sequence parameters. Prospective, in vivo assessment included 10 subjects with chronic anemia who underwent a total of 19 (9 bilateral) pre- and post-infusion brachial plexus exams using three-dimensional (3D), T2-weighted short-tau inversion recovery (T2-STIR) sequences at 3.0 T. Two musculoskeletal radiologists qualitatively rated sequences for the degree of vascular suppression and brachial plexus branch nerve conspicuity. Nerve-to-muscle, -fat, and -vessel contrast ratios were measured. RESULTS: Quantitative nerve/muscle and nerve/small vessel contrast ratios (CRs) increased with ferumoxytol (p < 0.05). Qualitative vascular suppression and suprascapular nerve visualization improved following ferumoxytol administration for both raters (p < .05). Pre- and post-ferumoxytol exams demonstrated moderate to near-perfect inter-rater agreement for nerve visualization and diagnostic confidence for the suprascapular and axillary nerves but poor to no agreement for the long thoracic nerve. CONCLUSION:Ferumoxytol in T2-weighted brachial plexus MR neurography provides robust vascular suppression and aids visualization of the suprascapular nerve in volunteers without neuropathy.
Authors: Barbara Cervantes; Jan S Kirschke; Elizabeth Klupp; Hendrik Kooijman; Peter Börnert; Axel Haase; Ernst J Rummeny; Dimitrios C Karampinos Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2017-03-05 Impact factor: 4.668