title: [Role of MR imaging on the diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency preoperatively].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and actuality of MR imaging on diagnosis and evaluation of velopharyngeal insufficiency preoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 2002, six patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency were examined with MRI using midsagittal, coronal, and axial images, contrast with radiography, to affirm configuration and movements of soft palate, posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls, and velopharyngeal opening for the choices of following surgeries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRI visualizes directly and measures objectively the shorter soft palate, confined movements of soft palate, lateral or/and posterior pharyngeal wall, and deeper and enlarged velopharyngeal opening, which were coincided with clinical symptoms and affirmed by observations in the following operations, surpassing radiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI is effective, actual, and uninvasive in imaging and measuring the velopharyngeal insufficiency, thus has a potential role in investigation and planning surgical repairs.
authors: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041, China.
authors: Chen-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Huang
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Cheng
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Lü
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Xiong
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Ning-bei
authors: NB
authors: Yin
authors: Zhen-min
authors: ZM
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult