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Evaluation of trigeminal nerve tractography using two-fold-accelerated simultaneous multi-slice readout-segmented
Yeow Hoay Koh1, Yao-Chia Shih2,3, Soo Lee Lim2
1Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute - Outram Campus, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.
European Radiology
|September 2, 2020
Summary
Simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging with readout-segmented echo planar imaging (RESOLVE-DTI) allows for fast and reliable diffusion tensor imaging of the trigeminal nerve. This technique shows potential for improved clinical management of trigeminal neuralgia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Background:
- Readout-segmented echo planar imaging (RESOLVE-DTI) minimizes posterior fossa artifacts but has long acquisition times.
- Simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging accelerates MRI scans, but its effect on cranial nerve DTI in the skull base is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of trigeminal nerve DTI metrics using SMS combined with RESOLVE-DTI.
- To assess the impact of SMS acceleration on DTI data quality and consistency.
Main Methods:
- Three RESOLVE-DTI protocols were compared in 8 healthy controls and 6 trigeminal neuralgia patients: non-SMS, SMS with identical TR, and SMS with short TR.
- Trigeminal nerve streamlines were tracked, and DTI metrics were analyzed for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).
Main Results:
- No visual artifacts were observed in the trigeminal nerves across all protocols.
- Pontine SNR was highest in non-SMS, but SMS protocols showed comparable results.
- Intra-rater and inter-rater ICCs were excellent (>0.85), indicating high reliability.
- SMS and non-SMS protocols yielded consistent DTI metrics with significant linear relationships.
Conclusions:
- SMS RESOLVE-DTI provides a fast and reliable method for assessing trigeminal nerve microstructural integrity.
- This technique has potential clinical applications in managing trigeminal neuralgia.
- Two-fold accelerated RESOLVE-DTI offers comparable results, significantly reducing scan time.
