Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression
Published on: May 7, 2019
Evaluation of lumber nerve root compression using thin-slice thickness coronal magnetic resonance imaging:
Keizo Tanitame1, Nobuko Tanitame, Chihiro Tani
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. tanitame@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to compare the three-dimensional fat-suppressed balanced non-steady-state free precession (3D FS-nSSFP) sequence and the 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled echo (3D T1-GRE) sequence for evaluating lumbar nerve root compression with continuous thin-slice coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images.
Materials And Methods:
The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all 35 patients. We optimized continuous 2.5-mm thick lumbar coronal images with 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE. We calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for nerve roots and other structures on images with the two sequences. With knowledge of the final diagnosis, we assessed the visibility of nerve root compression on these images.
Results:
The CNR values of nerve roots were significantly higher on images with 3D FS-nSSFP than on those with 3D T1-GRE. These continuous thin-slice coronal images facilitated visualization of nerve root compression in >91% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two sequences in the detection of nerve root compression.
Conclusion:
Continuous thin-slice coronal MR images using 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE sequences are sufficient to evaluate lumbar nerve root compression, and 3D FS-nSSFP is superior to 3D T1-GRE for depiction of lumbar nerve roots.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography

