增强3D STIR SPACE序列在臂丛神经中的应用价值

目的探讨增强三维短时反转恢复快速自旋回波成像(3D STIR SPACE)行臂丛神经成像的可行性及应用价值。方法收集33例臂丛神经图像,均采用3D STIR SPACE序列扫描。其中10例志愿者行平扫,15例患者行平扫和增强扫描,8例患者仅行增强扫描。由2名影像诊断副主任以上医师观察臂丛神经成像特点,对臂丛神经的扫描结果和背景抑制效果进行评分,并测量臂丛神经与肌肉的对比噪声比CRN。臂丛神经显示评分及背景抑制评分采用独立样本的非参数检验(Wilcoxon秩和检验);15例同时进行增强和平扫图像的对比噪声比行自身配对t检验。结果在25例平扫图像臂丛神经显示评分为(2.04±0.61)分,背景抑制评分为(1.6±0.71)分;23例增强图像臂丛神经显示评分为(3.98±0.51)分,背景抑制评分为(3.57±0.66)分,两者具有统计学差异(Z值分别是5.895、5.392,P值均<0.01)。15例自身对比平扫与增强CRN为0.37±0.07和0.58±0.08,两者具有统计学差异(t值为-9.41,P值<0.01)。结论3D STIR SPACE序列增强相比于平扫序列可以更好抑制背景组织信号及显示臂丛神经走行和内部信号改变,为临床医生提供准确的病变诊断及相应的治疗建议。

The application value of enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence in brachial plexus nerve

Objective To explore the feasibility and application value of enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence in displaying brachial plexus nerve.Methods A total of 33 brachial plexus nerve images were collected and scanned with 3D STIR SPACE sequence.Among them,10 volunteers received plain scan,15 patients received both plain scan and enhanced scan,and 8 patients only received enhanced scan.The original images were reconstructed by MIP,MPR and VR to display the brachial plexus nerve and its alignment to the largest extent.Then two physicians above the associate director of imaging diagnosis observed the imaging characteristics of brachial plexus nerve carefully to score scanning results and background suppression effects of brachial plexus nerve and to measure contrast noise ratio(CRN)between brachial plexus nerve and muscle.The visibility score of brachial plexus nerve and background suppression score were compared by non-parametric test of independent samples(Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test).The CRN result of 15 subjects received both enhanced and plain imaging were compared with paired t test.Results In 25 images from plain scan group,the score of displaying brachial plexus was 2.04±0.61 and the background suppression score was 1.6±0.71;In 23 images from enhanced scan group,the score of displaying brachial plexus was 3.98±0.51,and the background suppression score was 3.5±0.66.There were statistically significant differences between the two groups(Z=5.895,P<0.01;Z=5.392,P<0.01).The CRN of 15 subjects received both plain and enhanced imaging were 0.37±0.07 and 0.58±0.08.There existed statistically significant differences(t=-9.412,P<0.01).Conclusion Compared with plain scan,3D STIR SPACE sequence enhancement could suppress background tissue signal better,display brachial plexus nerve and internal signal changes more clearly,and possess high diagnostic value of brachial plexus neuropathy.