• P Held, R Fründ, J Seitz, W Nitz, T Haffke, and H Hees.
• Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Regensburg, Germany.
• Eur J Radiol. 2001 Jan 1; 37 (1): 18-25.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the detectability of the trigeminal nerve and its branches using T1 weighted (w.) 3-D magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo (MP-RAGE), T2* w. 3D CISS and T2 w. 2-D turbo spin echo MR sequences. Thirty healthy volunteers were examined for this purpose using a 1.5 Tesla MR unit. The detectability of the trigeminal nerve and Gasser's Ganglion, i.e. structures that are surrounded by liquor was best using 3-D CISS. In the case of the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular nerves, the T1 w. 3-D MPRAGE was significantly better than T2* w. CISS and T2 w. 2-D turbo spin echo. The latter yielded the poorest results. We conclude that both high resolution T2* w. and T1 w. 3-D sequences are necessary in order to detect the liquor-surrounded trigeminal nerve and its soft tissue-surrounded branches. We would therefore recommend the inclusion of constructive interference in steady state (CISS) and MP-RAGE in a MR imaging protocol of the trigeminal nerve and its branches.

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