TY - JOUR
T1 - Brachial plexus assessment with three-dimensional isotropic resolution fast spin echo MRI
T2 - Comparison with conventional MRI at 3.0 T
AU - Tagliafico, Alberto
AU - Succio, G.
AU - Neumaier, C. E.
AU - Baio, G.
AU - Serafini, G.
AU - Ghidara, M.
AU - Calabrese, M.
AU - Martinoli, C.
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine whether a three-dimensional (3D) isotropic resolution fast spin echo sequence (FSE-cube) has similar image quality and diagnostic performance to a routine MRI protocol for brachial plexus evaluation in volunteers and symptomatic patients at 3.0 T. Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were guaranteed. Methods: In this prospective study FSE-cube was added to the standard brachial plexus examination protocol in eight patients (mean age, 50.2 years) with brachial plexus pathologies and in six volunteers (mean age, 54 years). Nerve visibility, tissue contrast, edge sharpness, image blurring, motion artefact and acquisition time were calculated for FSE-cube sequences and for the standard protocol on a standardised five-point scale. The visibility of brachial plexus nerve and surrounding tissues at four levels (roots, interscalene area, costoclavicular space and axillary level) was assessed. Results: Image quality and nerve visibility did not significantly differ between FSE-cube and the standard protocol (p>0.05). Acquisition time was statistically and clinically significantly shorter with FSE-cube (p
AB - Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine whether a three-dimensional (3D) isotropic resolution fast spin echo sequence (FSE-cube) has similar image quality and diagnostic performance to a routine MRI protocol for brachial plexus evaluation in volunteers and symptomatic patients at 3.0 T. Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were guaranteed. Methods: In this prospective study FSE-cube was added to the standard brachial plexus examination protocol in eight patients (mean age, 50.2 years) with brachial plexus pathologies and in six volunteers (mean age, 54 years). Nerve visibility, tissue contrast, edge sharpness, image blurring, motion artefact and acquisition time were calculated for FSE-cube sequences and for the standard protocol on a standardised five-point scale. The visibility of brachial plexus nerve and surrounding tissues at four levels (roots, interscalene area, costoclavicular space and axillary level) was assessed. Results: Image quality and nerve visibility did not significantly differ between FSE-cube and the standard protocol (p>0.05). Acquisition time was statistically and clinically significantly shorter with FSE-cube (p
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U2 - 10.1259/bjr/28972953
DO - 10.1259/bjr/28972953
M3 - Article
C2 - 21343321
AN - SCOPUS:84861841359
VL - 85
JO - British Journal of Radiology
JF - British Journal of Radiology
SN - 0007-1285
IS - 1014
ER -