title: MR imaging of cranial nerve lesions using six different high-resolution T1- and T2(*)-weighted 3D and 2D sequences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find a suitable high-resolution MR protocol for the visualization of lesions of all 12 cranial nerves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight pathologically changed cranial nerves (17 patients) were studied with MR imaging at 1.5 T using 3D T2*-weighted CISS, T1-weighted 3D MP-RAGE (without and with i.v. contrast medium), T2-weighted 3D TSE, T2-weighted 2D TSE and T1-weighted fat saturation 2D TSE sequences. Visibility of the 38 lesions of the 12 cranial nerves in each sequence was evaluated by consensus of two radiologists using an evaluation scale from 1 (excellently visible) to 4 (not visible).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3D CISS sequence provided the best resolution of the cranial nerves and their lesions when surrounded by CSF. In nerves which were not surrounded by CSF, the 2D T1-weighted contrast-enhanced fat suppression technique was the best sequence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of 3D CISS, the 2D T1-weighted fat suppressed sequence and a 3D contrast-enhanced MP-RAGE proved to be the most useful sequence to visualize all lesions of the cranial nerves. For the determination of enhancement, an additional 3D MP-RAGE sequence without contrast medium is required. This sequence is also very sensitive for the detection of hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany, and Department of Radiology, Medical Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strotzer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Völk
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Nitz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dorenbeck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stamato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feuerbach
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media