Comparison of simultaneous multi-slice readout-segmented EPI and conventional single-shot EPI for diffusion tensor imaging of the ulnar nerve

Michael Ho,Anton Becker,Erika Ulbrich,Andrei Manoliu,Félix P Kuhn,Matthias Eberhard,Lukas Filli

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00853

Michael Ho, Anton Becker + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00853

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Journal: Heliyon	Publication Date: Oct 1, 2018
Citations: 5	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Zurich

Abstract

PurposeTo compare conventional single-shot echo planar imaging (ss-EPI) and simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) readout-segmented EPI (rs-EPI) for magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the ulnar nerve. Materials and methodsThis study was approved by the local ethics committee. Ten healthy volunteers (mean age 30.4 ± 4.01 years; range 25–36 years) underwent 3T DTI of the ulnar nerve at the level of the cubital tunnel. DTI was performed based on ss-EPI as well as SMS rs-EPI sequences. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), image quality, and DTI parameters in the ulnar nerve (fractional anisotropy, FA; mean diffusivity, MD) were compared between the two sequences by two independent radiologists. ResultsAcquisition time was 5:12 min for ss-EPI and 5:18 min for SMS rs-EPI. Between the two sequences, no significant differences were found for derived DTI measures FA (p = 0.11) and MD values (p = 0.93). Compared to conventional ss-EPI, SMS rs-EPI yielded significantly less ghosting artifacts (p = 0.04) but inferior nerve depiction (p = 0.001) and worse overall image quality (p = 0.008). ConclusionSMS rs-EPI is not advantageous over ss-EPI in DTI of the ulnar nerve at the level of the cubital tunnel.

Highlights

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is amongst the most common peripheral neuropathies with an annual incidence of about 21/100.000 [1]
The etiology of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow remains unclear in many cases [1, 5]
Specific absorption rate (SAR) limits were respected in all sequences without the need for switching to first-level mode

Summary

Introduction

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is amongst the most common peripheral neuropathies with an annual incidence of about 21/100.000 [1]. Traditional diagnostic testing for UNE mainly consists of physical examination, nerve conduction studies and ancillary neurosonography, all of which are highly operator dependent. In search of additional tools for characterizing peripheral nerves, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been increasingly used in the last years for imaging of forearm nerves [6, 7]. DTI parameters could have a role as a surrogate marker of peripheral nerve integrity [9, 10]. The ulnar nerve, in contrast, has only been subject of investigation in few studies [3, 14, 15]

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