Visualization of cranial nerves, V-VIIIth with MRI; value of b-FFE, T2W drive,T2W TSE and post contrast T1W sequences

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the best effective MRI sequence for the visualization of the V-VIIIth cranial nerves (trigeminal,abducent,facial and vestibulocochlear nerves) in their cisternal\canalicular courses. Balanced fast-field echo (b-FFE), 3D-T2W DRIVE Sense, T2W 2D TSE and post contrast T1W sequences were all applied and we tried to get the best sequence for the exact assessment of the V-VIIIth cranial nerves. Material and Methods: A hundred patients with 800 nerves without the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, facial paralysis, diplopia and hearing loss were examined using the above sequences. Imaging analysis is graded as; nerves analyzed by certainty (score of 2), nerves analyzed partially (score of 1), nerves not identified (score of 0). Results: In all four nerves, the best sequence for the visualization of the cisternal and intracanalicular course was b-FFE among others, with %97.75 average success in showing the fascicles of V-VIIIth nerves. DRIVE T2W sequence is superior than the T2W TSE sequence in assessing the cisternal parts of V-VIIth nerves. In visualizing the vestibulocochlear nerve, both DRIVE and TSE T2W sequences were almost equal. Post-contrast T1W sequence was probably the worst sequence in showing all four nerves. Conclusion: B-FFE sequence should be the optimal choice for imaging of V-VIIIth cranial nerves. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.