Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2011
MSVN51-03
MR Imaging of the Internal Craniocervical Ligaments Using a New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequence: Three-dimensional Turbo Spin-Echo with Variable Flip-Angle Distribution
Scientific Formal (Paper) Presentations
Presented on December 1, 2011
Presented as part of MSVN51: Neuroradiology Series: Spine
Peter Schmidt MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Andreas Ragoschke-Schumm, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Hans Joachim Mentzel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Bayer AG Novartis, GE, Falk
Research Consultant, Novartis AG
Research Consultant, General Electric Company
Research Consultant, Falk
Research grant, Novartis AG
Research grant, BeamMed Ltd
Werner Alois Kaiser MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Researcher, Siemens AG
Researcher, Bayer AG
Researcher, General Electric Company
Researcher, Suros Surgical Systems, Inc
Researcher, C. R. Bard, Inc
Researcher, Boston Scientific Corporation
Researcher, Galil Medical Ltd
Researcher, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Researcher, Confirma, Inc
Researcher, CAD Sciences LLC
Researcher, Carl Zeiss Stiftung
Thomas E Mayer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
As little data of 3 Tesla MR imaging of the internal craniocervical ligament imaging is yet available and the involvement of the internal craniocervical ligaments in whiplash-injury associated disorders is still discussed controversely, the purpose of this study was to assess the morphology and visibility of these ligamentous structures with a new isotropic three-dimensional turbo-spin-echo (TSE) technique in healthy subjects.
We assessed the MR apperance of the alar ligaments in 116 healthy subjects with no history of cervical trauma (mean age 28,8 years, range 18 - 89 years, 59 women, 57 men). MR imaging was performed using a 3.0 T scanner (Siemens) with T2-weighted turbo spin echo 3 D sequence with 0.8 mm isotropical voxels (acquisition time, 461 seconds; acquisition type, 3D; repetition time, 3000 ms; echo time 354 ms; number of averages, 1; number of slices, 176; slice thickness, 0.8 mm; matrix, 256 x 256; field of view, 210 mm). Subjets were scanned in neutral postion of the head. Two neuroradiologists, blind to participants clinical status, separately reviewed the images on a 3D imaging and postprocessing workstation to determine homogeneity, symmetry, signal intensity, shape and spatial orientation of the alar ligaments. Interobserver correlation was assessed with kappa statistics.
The ligamentous structures (alar ligament, transverse ligament, tectorial membranes) could be detected in all subjects. Evaluating the criteria detectibility, signalintensity, homogeneity, shape, orientation and symmetry of these ligaments revealed a high range of natural variation, the inter-observer correlation was high (kappa ranging from 0.65 to 0.89).
MRI imaging of the internal craniocervical ligaments using the new SPACE-sequence allows high-resolution imaging of these ligaments. The 3 D data set allowed reconstruction of images in any desired orientation, what proved to be very useful for the depiction of the complete extent of these ligaments.
Our findings limit the relevance of structural alterations in the identification of the source of neck pain in symptomatic patients after whiplash injury.
Schmidt, P,
Ragoschke-Schumm, A,
Mentzel, H,
Kaiser, W,
Mayer, T,
MR Imaging of the Internal Craniocervical Ligaments Using a New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequence: Three-dimensional Turbo Spin-Echo with Variable Flip-Angle Distribution. Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11015390.html