Visualization of Vascular Compression of the Trigeminal Nerve With High-Resolution 3T MRI: A Prospective Study Comparing Preoperative Imaging Analysis to Surgical Findings in 40 Consecutive Patients Who Underwent Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract

3T MRI using 3D T2-weighted DRIVE in combination with 3D TOF-MRA and 3D T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced sequences proved to be reliable in detecting NVC and in predicting the degree of root compression, the outcome being correlated with the latter.

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

“…16,17,24,25,28,29 There are limited data concerning the value of 3D-TOF MRA at 3T in NVC, 3,4,27 and, to our knowledge, no comparison between 1.5T and 3T in the same patient population with NVC has been conducted to date. In our study, anatomic structures were significantly (P Ͻ .02) better visible and quantitative values were significantly (P Ͻ .001) higher at 3T, resulting in a substantially improved image quality.…”

“…4,6,19,21 There are few studies of the beneficial properties of 3D-CISS at 3T in patients with NVC, 3,4,27 and to date, no data about the possible improvement of 3D-CISS at 3T over 1.5T in the same patient population with NVC are available. The increased SNR at higher field strengths is useful for the conspicuity of small anatomic structures.…”

Imaging of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Hemifacial Spasm, Vestibular Paroxysmia, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

“…[12][13][14][15][16] This combination can successfully guide neurosurgical treatment and may predict treatment response. [17][18][19] A variety of high-resolution 3D heavily T2-weighted sequences is currently available, including CISS; FIESTA; balanced steady-state free precession; driven equilibrium and radiofrequency reset pulse; and sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE sequence; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), providing accurate visualization of the cisternal portion of the involved CN.…”

Usefulness of Subtraction of 3D T2WI-DRIVE from Contrast-Enhanced 3D T1WI: Preoperative Evaluations of the Neurovascular Anatomy of Patients with Neurovascular Compression Syndrome

“…Some authors have proposed that the presence of clear-cut and marked vascular compression is a factor in good long-term prognosis 5,6 ; thus, the accurate preoperative radiologic evaluation of the neurovascular anatomy is crucial to achieve an excellent clinical outcome. High-resolution 3D MR cisternography, such as 3D T2-weighted imaging driven equilibrium radiofrequency reset pulse (3D T2WI-DRIVE), 7,8 3D FIESTA 9,10 and 3D CISS, [11][12][13] is the method of choice to evaluate preoperative neurovascular anatomy in patients with neurovascular compression syndrome. Although these sequences have excellent spatial resolution, the contrast between vessels and cranial nerves at the point of neurovascular contact (NVC) is limited in general; this poor contrast is a major drawback of these sequences for preoperative evaluations of vascular compression syndromes.…”

“…Although these sequences have excellent spatial resolution, the contrast between vessels and cranial nerves at the point of neurovascular contact (NVC) is limited in general; this poor contrast is a major drawback of these sequences for preoperative evaluations of vascular compression syndromes. 14,15 On 3D TOF-MRA 8,[16][17][18] or 3D gadolinium-enhanced T1WI, 8,13,18 vessels are clearly depicted but the nerves are too poorly seen to be depicted at the point of NVC. Fused images of 3D CTA or 3D TOF-MRA and 3D MR cisternography have been used to evaluate the NVC to solve this problem, [19][20][21][22][23] but making these fusion images is technically challenging and too time-consuming for daily clinical practice.…”