title: Usefulness of contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional T1-VISTA in the diagnosis of facial neuritis: comparison with contrast-enhanced T1-TSE.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compared with 2-dimensional imaging, 3D-reformatted imaging is a valuable technique that offers improved anatomic accuracy with minimal flow artifact and thinner sections without gaps between slices. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of CE 3D T1-VISTA with fat suppression sequences compared with CE T1-TSE with fat suppression sequences in patients with facial neuritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 32 consecutive patients who underwent IAC MR imaging for Bell's palsy. IAC MR scanning, including CE T1-VISTA and CE T1-TSE, was performed in all patients using a 3T scanner. The order of the scans was random. Signal intensity was measured at three segments (canalicular, labyrinthine, and anterior genu) of the facial nerve by drawing a ROI along the affected side and the normal side in each segment. We compared the quantitative CR of the two MR sequences with paired t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all three segments, the lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA (canalicular: 2.32; labyrinthine: 2.22; anterior genu: 1.97) were greater than those on CE T1-TSE (canalicular: 2.17; labyrinthine: 1.72; anterior genu: 1.68). The labyrinthine and anterior genu segments had significantly higher lesion-to-normal contrast ratios on CE 3D T1-VISTA in patients with facial neuritis (labyrinthine: P<0.001; anterior genu: P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CE 3D T1-VISTA was superior to CE T1-TSE in terms of image contrast between lesions and the normal facial nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, 149, Sangil-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, 149, Sangil-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, Korea. Electronic address: md.cwryu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, 149, Sangil-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul 134-727, Korea.
authors.forename: Geon-Ho
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Jahng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Eui Jong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Asan Medical center, Pungnap 2-dong Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol
keywords: Bell's palsy; CE 3D T1-VISTA; Facial neuritis; IAC MR imaging; Lesion-to-normal contrast ratio