Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2026
In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears
Published on: February 21, 2018
Comparison of 2-D turbo spin echo and 3-D gradient echo sequences for the detection of the trigeminal nerve and
Abstract:
The 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.
