[MRI of the regions of the inner ear and cerebellopontine angle using a 3D T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence. Comparison with conventional 2D T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences and T1-weighted spin-echo sequences].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of a three-dimensional (3D) T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence (3D T2-TSE) in comparison to conventional two-dimensional (2D) T2-weighted TSE and unenhanced and enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo sequences (SE) in imaging anatomic structures and pathologic changes of the inner ear and cerebellopontine angle.


METHODS
The inner ear and cerebellopontine angle were investigated by MRI in three healthy volunteers and 18 patients performing a 2D T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence and a 3D T2-TSE in the axial plane. In the patient study, 2D T1-weighted SE sequences both before and after the i.v. injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine in both the axial and coronal plane were performed in addition.


RESULTS
Only the 3D T2-TSE enabled an accurate imaging of the anatomic structures. In cases of pathology, the 3D T2-TSE provided additional information to the performed 2D sequences. The combination of the 3D T2-TSE with unenhanced and enhanced 2D T1-weighted SE enabled the most accurate diagnosis in cases of pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate depiction of anatomic structures of the inner ear and cerebellopontine angle could be obtained by 3D T2-TSE only. The most accurate diagnosis in cases of pathology was provided by the combination of the 3D T2-TSE with unenhanced and enhanced 2D T1-weighted spin-echo sequences.
Czerny
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Abteilung für Osteologie/Universitätsklinik für Radiodiagnostik Wien.
Trattnig
S
S
Baumgartner
W D
WD
Gstöttner
W
W
Imhof
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology
D019786:Gadolinium DTPA