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High-Resolution 3D-Constructive Interference in Steady-State MR Imaging and 3D Time-of-Flight MR Angiography in Neurovascular Compression: A Comparison between 3T and 1.5T

2012; American Society of Neuroradiology; Volume: 33; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3174/ajnr.a2974

1936-959X

Maria Isabel Osorio Garcia, Ramin Naraghi, Thomas Zumbrunn, J Rösch, Peter Hastreiter, Arnd Dörfler,

Meningioma and schwannoma management

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-resolution MR imaging is useful for diagnosis and preoperative planning in patients with NVC. Because high-field MR imaging promises higher SNR and resolution, the aim of this study was to determine the value of high-resolution 3D-CISS and 3D-TOF MRA at 3T compared with 1.5T in patients with NVC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with NVC, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia were examined at 1.5T and 3T, including high-resolution 3D-CISS and 3D-TOF MRA sequences. Delineation of anatomic structures, overall image quality, severity of artifacts, visibility of NVC, and assessment of the SNR and CNR were compared between field strengths. RESULTS: SNR and CNR were significantly higher at 3T ( P < .001). Significantly better anatomic conspicuity, including delineation of CNs, nerve branches, and assessment of small vessels, was obtained at 3T ( P < .02). Severity of artifacts was significantly lower at 3T ( P < .001). Consequently, overall image quality was significantly higher at 3T. NVC was significantly better delineated at 3T ( P < .001). Six patients in whom NVC was not with certainty identifiable at 1.5T were correctly diagnosed at 3T. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NVC may benefit from the higher resolution and greater sensitivity of 3T for preoperative assessment of NVC, and 3T may be of particular value when 1.5T is equivocal.