title: Usefulness of Three Dimensional Proset MR Images for Diagnosis of Symptomatic L5-S1 Foraminal and Extraforaminal Stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To suggest a new useful diagnostic technique, principles of the selective excitation technique-magnetic resonance images (Proset-MRI), and to know the precise radiologic findings that can prove symptomatic foraminal and extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with symptomatic L5-S1 stenosis were checked by Proset-MRI. Four patients were performed decompressive surgery and 15 patients were performed selective nerve root block (SNRB) at L5. The pain scale of patients was checked by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at the pre- and post-treatment state.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proset-MRI findings of patients with symptomatic stenosis are root swelling (RS) and indentation. The comparisons with VAS scores had a meaningful statistical result at each RS (p<0.01) and indentation (p<0.01). However, the findings of RS combined with indentation lacked statistical significance (p=0.0249). In addition, according to a comparison with the treatment modalities, reducing of VAS scores had statistical meaningful significance in decompressive surgery cases (p<0.01), and also in SNRB cases (p<0.01) after a 3-month follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three dimensional Proset-MRI is very useful and sensitive technique to diagnose the symptomatic foraminal and extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Woo Mok
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Byun
keywords: Foraminal and extraforaminal stenosis; Indentation; Nerve root swelling; Proset-MRI
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