title: Brachial plexus assessment with three-dimensional isotropic resolution fast spin echo MRI: comparison with conventional MRI at 3.0 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to determine whether a three-dimensional (3D) isotropic resolution fast spin echo sequence (FSE-cube) has similar image quality and diagnostic performance to a routine MRI protocol for brachial plexus evaluation in volunteers and symptomatic patients at 3.0 T. Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were guaranteed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study FSE-cube was added to the standard brachial plexus examination protocol in eight patients (mean age, 50.2 years) with brachial plexus pathologies and in six volunteers (mean age, 54 years). Nerve visibility, tissue contrast, edge sharpness, image blurring, motion artefact and acquisition time were calculated for FSE-cube sequences and for the standard protocol on a standardised five-point scale. The visibility of brachial plexus nerve and surrounding tissues at four levels (roots, interscalene area, costoclavicular space and axillary level) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image quality and nerve visibility did not significantly differ between FSE-cube and the standard protocol (p>0.05). Acquisition time was statistically and clinically significantly shorter with FSE-cube (p<0.05). Pathological findings were seen equally well with FSE-cube and the standard protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D FSE-cube provided similar image quality in a shorter acquisition time and enabled excellent visualisation of brachial plexus anatomy and pathology in any orientation, regardless of the original scanning plane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy. alberto.tagliafico@unige.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliafico
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Succio
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Neumaier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghidara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult