title: Evaluation of lumber nerve root compression using thin-slice thickness coronal magnetic resonance imaging: three-dimensional fat-suppressed multi-shot balanced non-steady-state free precession versus three-dimensional T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled echo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the three-dimensional fat-suppressed balanced non-steady-state free precession (3D FS-nSSFP) sequence and the 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled echo (3D T1-GRE) sequence for evaluating lumbar nerve root compression with continuous thin-slice coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all 35 patients. We optimized continuous 2.5-mm thick lumbar coronal images with 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE. We calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for nerve roots and other structures on images with the two sequences. With knowledge of the final diagnosis, we assessed the visibility of nerve root compression on these images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CNR values of nerve roots were significantly higher on images with 3D FS-nSSFP than on those with 3D T1-GRE. These continuous thin-slice coronal images facilitated visualization of nerve root compression in >91% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two sequences in the detection of nerve root compression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous thin-slice coronal MR images using 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE sequences are sufficient to evaluate lumbar nerve root compression, and 3D FS-nSSFP is superior to 3D T1-GRE for depiction of lumbar nerve roots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. tanitame@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanitame
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanitame
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takasu
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric