Role of Fused Three-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography and 3-Dimensional T2-Weighted Imaging Sequences in Neurovascular Compression

Predictability of Fused 3D-T2-SPACE and 3D-TOF-MRA Images in Identifying Conflict in Trigeminal Neuralgia

“…6 According to author Zhou et al, when comparing the results between MR cisternography (3D FIESTA sequence) and gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography, the 3D FIESTA sequence provides more useful information in the visualization of NVC in patients with TN. 16 Moreover, several recent studies have shown that although no enhanced sequence is available, simple combining or fusion of these two sequences is a reliable, quick, efficient, safe, and non-invasive method for evaluation of the relationship between the trigeminal nerve and the neighboring vascular structures, and sufficient for the decision-making of MVD of the affected nerve, 8,9 as well as in our present study.…”

“…Nowadays, the development of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with high-resolution with thin-slice sequences through the pontocerebellar angle (MR cisternography) combined or fused with 3D time-of-flight spoiled gradient-recalled sequence (TOF-MR angiography), which allows effective diagnosis and assessment of NVC. [6][7][8][9] Among MR cisternography sequences, 3D sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip-angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) sequence produces a very high-resolution T2-weighted image with excellent contrast between structures applied to visualize the complex posterior fossa anatomy. 10 We carried out this study to evaluate the usefulness of the fused 3D-T2-SPACE and 3D-TOF-MRA sequences in detecting NVC in patients presenting with typical TN.…”

“…The most common sites of compression are medial and cranial aspects relative to the position of the SCA. Leal et al 6 and Gamaleldin et al 9 found that nerve compression was the high percentage of superomedial sites to the high number of NVC syndromes due to SCA approaching the nerve. These results suggested the value of preoperative MRI in displaying the local anatomical relationship between vessels and nerves, providing valuable information for surgeons to precisely identify which nerve root fibers should be decompressed during surgery.…”

Gravity determines the direction of nerve roots sedimentation in the lumbar spinal canal

“…MR imaging, with special sequence, is more and more commonly used in the diagnose of neurological diseases [15]. Recently, diffusion tensor imaging allows for three-dimensional rendering of the peripheral nerves, it was reported that DTI was helpful to determine the extent of neural dysfunction of the carpal tunnel syndrome [16].…”

Unilateral loss of trigeminal nerve fibers at the ventral pons

“…On a contrary note, trigerminal neuralgia originating from vascular compression (particularly the middle and superior cerebellar arteries owing to their physical proximity) holds a well-established etiology and partial or complete absence of fibers might lead to volumetric decompressions and relieve the possibility of such pains [9]. Hence, it might also play some sort of physiologically protective role since the root at the site of neurovascular contact attributes in accentuating neuralgia.…”