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Galley J, Sutter R, Germann C, et al. High-resolution in vivo MR imaging of intraspinal cervical nerve rootlets at 3 and 7 Tesla. Eur Radiol. 2021;31(7):4625-4633doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3.
Galley, J., Sutter, R., Germann, C., Wanivenhaus, F., & Nanz, D. (2021). High-resolution in vivo MR imaging of intraspinal cervical nerve rootlets at 3 and 7 Tesla. European radiology, 31(7), 4625-4633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3
Galley, Julien, et al. "High-resolution in vivo MR imaging of intraspinal cervical nerve rootlets at 3 and 7 Tesla." European radiology vol. 31,7 (2021): 4625-4633. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3
Galley J, Sutter R, Germann C, Wanivenhaus F, Nanz D. High-resolution in vivo MR imaging of intraspinal cervical nerve rootlets at 3 and 7 Tesla. Eur Radiol. 2021 Jul;31(7):4625-4633. doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3. Epub 2021 Jan 06. PMID: 33409779.
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Eur Radiol. 2021 Jul;31(7):4625-4633. doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3. Epub 2021 Jan 06.

High-resolution in vivo MR imaging of intraspinal cervical nerve rootlets at 3 and 7 Tesla.

European radiology

Julien Galley, Reto Sutter, Christoph Germann, Florian Wanivenhaus, Daniel Nanz

Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. [email protected].
  2. Department of Radiology, HFR, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. [email protected].
  3. Department of Radiology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  5. Swiss Center for Musculoskeletal Imaging (SCMI), Balgrist Campus AG, Zurich, Switzerland.
  6. University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

PMID: 33409779 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-07557-3

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: No routine imaging technology allows reliable visualization of nerve rootlets inside the spinal canal with positive contrast. The stronger MR signal at 7 T, with optimized protocols, may offer a solution. The purpose was to evaluate the potential of 3D Dual-Echo Steady-State (DESS) MR imaging of the cervical spine at 3 and 7 T in assessing the micro-anatomy of the nerve rootlets.

MATERIALS/METHODS: This prospective study was approved by the local ethics committee. Twenty-one patients, clinically referred to cervical-spine MRI, underwent additional MR exams at 3 T and 7 T, each of which consisted of a single 3D-DESS series with equal acquisition times. Artifacts, visualization quality, and number of identified rootlets (C2 to C8) were rated by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Results were compared by Wilcoxon tests. Interobserver reliability was assessed using weighted κ statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS: Intraspinal rootlets could successfully be visualized at both field strengths. Rating differences for artifacts and quality of rootlet depiction were not significant for the two field strengths. The mean number of identified rootlets was larger for 7-T than for 3-T MR for every assessed nerve; however, this difference was not statistically significant using the Bonferroni correction (p values ranging from 0.002 to 0.53). Interobserver agreement was substantial to almost perfect (weighted κ values of 0.69 and 0.82). The ICC for the number of identified rootlets was 0.80.

CONCLUSION: Non-invasive 3D-DESS MR-imaging at 3 and 7 T has the potential to provide precise assessments of the micro-anatomy of intraspinal cervical nerve roots.

KEY POINTS: • Cervical rootlets can be successfully visualized with positive contrast using 3D-DESS MR-imaging. • 3D-DESS MR-imaging at 3 and 7 T provides precise assessments of the micro-anatomy of cervical nerves. • The mean number of identified cervical rootlets using 3D-DESS was larger for 7 T than for 3 T MR; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Nerve; Spine

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