Simultaneous three-dimensional visualization of the intra-parotid facial nerve and parotid duct using a three-dimensional reversed FISP sequence with diffusion weighting

Abstract

We visualized the intraparotid facial nerve and parotid duct at 3 tesla using 3-dimensional reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (FSIP) (3D-PSIF) with diFFusion weighting. Excellent fat suppression by water-selective excitation, sufficient T2-weighting of 3D-PSIF, vessel suppression by diFFusion weighting, and high spatial resolution allowed the simultaneous visualization. We also present volumetric representation of the facial nerve and duct.