Taro Takahara MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tomohiro Yamashita MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Noriharu Yanagimachi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Misako Iino MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jun Koizumi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yutaka Imai MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate feasibility of diffusion weighted nerurography (DWN) for three dimensional visualization of peripheral nerve disease.

Our study includes five healthy volunteer and total of seven patients with peripheral nerve disease. All volunteers and patients were examined with 1.5T superconducting scanner (Gyroscan Intera, Best) with SENSE-body coil. The sequence employed as DWN is STIR-EPI (TR/TE/TI: 5122/70/180). Total of 60 axial slices with 4mm thickness and 1mm overlap were acquired during 430 sec with b value of 1000 sec/mm˛. Soap-bubble MIP procedure, that was developed originally for coronary MRA, was applied for three dimensional display. The visualization of bilateral roots and ganglions in cervical (C1 to Th1) and lumbar (L1 to S1) region on DWN was assessed in five healthy volunteer. Peripheral nerve tumor (n=5) and brachial plexus trauma (n=4) were also assessed. The evaluation was done by two board-certified radiologists and reached in consensus.

Ganglions of C3-C8 and L1-S1 were visualized completely (10/10). Roots of C5-7 and L3-S1 were also visualized completely (10/10). In five cases of peripheral nerve tumor, it could be visualized directly that the several peripheral nerves goes into the tumor and exits and toward periphery. The diagnosis of “neurogenic tumor” was extremely easy. In four cases of brachial plexus trauma, the injured nerves lost its continuity. It could be assessed three dimensionally on soap-bubble MIP images.

MR diffusion weighted neurography (DWN) was promising tool to visualize the peripheral nerve system and it allows us to evaluate the origin of neurogenic tumor and responsible nerve in the case with nerve injury.

Takahara, T, Yamashita, T, Yanagimachi, N, Iino, M, Koizumi, J, Imai, Y, Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Disease Using Diffusion Weighted Neurography (DWN).  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4412147.html