title: The application of paramagnetic contrast-based T2 effect to 3D heavily T2W high-resolution MR imaging of the brachial plexus and its branches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce a new 3D magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) method involving a paramagnetic contrast-based T2 effect coupled with an advanced 3D heavily T2W SPACE-STIR high resolution imaging sequence that would enhance the contrast between nervous tissue and surrounding tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty subjects (average age, 39.6±17.0 years; 18 male and 12 female) were enrolled, including three patients with brachial plexopathy and 27 healthy volunteers. Subjective scores from two neuroradiologists, evaluating noncontrast MRN (cMRN) and 3D SPACE-STIR contrast enhanced MRN (ceMRN) 3D data using a 3-point scoring system, were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs), SNRs, and contrast ratios within the brachial plexus on cMRN vs. ceMRN MIP and source images were also compared using the paired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average score for cMRN (0.77±0.43) was significantly lower than ceMRN (1.73±0.45) (p<0.001). Lower nerve vs. vein CNRs were found on cMRN vs. ceMRN, respectively (p<0.001 for both source and MIP images). All nerve-to-surrounding tissue contrast ratios (i.e., fat, muscle, veins, and bone) were higher for ceMRN compared with cMRN for both source and MIP images (all p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improved 3D visualization of the brachial plexus and its branches, using this new contrast-enhanced MRN method, can provide high resolution imaging which may be of significant value in the assessment of brachial plexopathy.
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Lixia
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Yanfeng
authors: Y
authors: Niu
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Xiangquan
authors: X
authors: Kong
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Qun
authors: Q
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Xiangchuang
authors: X
authors: Kong
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Yinzhang
authors: Y
authors: Lv
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Heshui
authors: H
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Chungao
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Wenjun
authors: W
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. Electronic address: dingxi_liu000@sina.com.
authors: Dingxi
authors: D
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000473:pathology*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Brachial plexus; Contrast ratio; Contrast-to-noise ratios; Magnetic resonance neurography; Signal-to-noise rations