title: 3D MR cisternography to identify distal dural rings: comparison of 3D-CISS and 3D-SPACE sequences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The distal dural ring (DDR) is an anatomical landmark used to distinguish intra- and extradural aneurysms. We investigated identification of the DDR using 2 three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) cisternography sequences--3D constructive interference in steady state (CISS) and 3D sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (SPACE)--at 3.0 tesla.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy adult volunteers underwent imaging with 3D-CISS, 3D-SPACE, and time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (TOF-MRA) sequences at 3.0T. We analyzed DDR identification and internal carotid artery (ICA) signal intensity and classified the shape of the carotid cave.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified the DDR using both 3D-SPACE and 3D-CISS, with no significant difference between the sequences. Visualization of the outline of the ICA in the cavernous sinus (CS) was significantly clearer with 3D-SPACE than 3D-CISS. In the CS and petrous portions, signal intensity was lower with 3D-SPACE, and the flow void was poor with 3D-CISS in some subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified the DDR with both 3D-SPACE and 3D-CISS, but the superior contrast of the ICA in the CS using 3D-SPACE suggests the superiority of this sequence for evaluating the DDR.
authors: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Postgraduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan. ywata3434@gmail.com
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Watanabe
authors: Akari
authors: A
authors: Makidono
authors: Miho
authors: M
authors: Nakamura
authors: Yukihisa
authors: Y
authors: Saida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric