Application of balanced turbo field echo and enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation imaging in patients before performing microvascular decompression in the posterior cranial fossa

Abstract

Objective To explore the applied value of balanced turbo field echo (BTFE)Cine-MR imaging and enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation (e-THRIVE) imaging in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) before performing microvascular decompression (MVD).Methods One hundred and twenty-one patients (74 patients with TN and 47 with HFS),admitted to our hospital from April 2009 to December 2011,were chosen in our study; a scan with ACHIEVA NOVA DUAL A-serial 1.5 T MR Machine using the BTFE and e-THRIVE serial besides conventional head MR imaging was performed on these patients.All the MR imaging data were retrospectively analyzed.Results All the patients were confirmed by microvascular decompression.The facial nerves of 74 patients with TN and 47 with HFS were displayed well.Responsible capillaries were found in 118 patients (98％):the related vessel was superior cerebellar artery in 52 patients (70％) of 74 patients with TN and anterior inferior cerebellar artery in 29 patients (625) of 47 patients with HFS.The compression style included oblique cross,parallel or vertical compression.Conclusion BTFE MR imaging and e-THRIVE imaging can show the trigeminal nerve,facial nerve and microvascular vessel in the posterior cranial fossa clearly; combining space-link method and multiplanar reconstruction,they can help us find the related vessel and provide preoperative guidance before microvascular decompression for patients with TN and HFS. Key words: Trigeminal nerve; Facial nerve; Microvascular decompression; Balanced turbo field echo sequence; Enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation sequence