Trigeminal Nerve Root And Trigeminal Ganglion 3D-FSPGR Serial MRI Morphological Observation And Measurement

Objective: The CE-3D-FSPGR TiWI sequences were used in patients with classic trigeminal neuralgia,for morphological observation and measurement of the trigeminal nerve root and trigeminal ganglion, to observe and summarize the trigeminal nerve root and trigeminal ganglion MRI morphological features,which would supply more information for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of classic trigeminal neuralgia.Research Methods:31 patients were clinically diagnosed as classic trigeminal neuralgia.Their complete clinical and imaging data were cllected. routine SET T1WI, FSE T2WI, and CE-3D-FSPGR T1WI sequences images of trigeminal nerve were cllected.SET1WI and FSE T2WI sequences images were used to symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia,such as the brain stem, cerebellopontine angle space-occupying lesions, multiple sclerosis, aneurysm, cerebral infarction, and other structural abnormalities.The 3D-FSPGR Images of trigeminal nerve were used to measure and restructure the trigeminal nerve root and trigeminal ganglion images.Images were read, measured and restructured by two high qualification radiologists by two who were blinded to the clinical data.On the axial images,we measured the length of cisternal trigeminal nerve, measured the length and width, largest cross-sectional area of trigeminal ganglion,whoes thickness was counted as layers thickness×number of layers.Measured the cross-sectional areas of the trigeminal nerve root on the largest cross-sectional on the coronal images.On the oblique sagittal reconstruction images, we measured the turn angles of the nerves passing the petrosal bone and length of the trigeminal nerve sensory root.SAS9.1.3 softwares package was used for statistical analysis. Measurements data of symptomatic and asymptomatic side in patients were compared with paired t test.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The cross-sectional areas of the trigeminal nerve root of classic trigeminal neuralgia patients on the symptomatic side were different significantly from the asymptomatic side (t=2.1516, P=0.0355<0.05). Other parameters such as the length of cisternal trigeminal nerve,area of the trigeminal ganglion, trigeminal ganglion length, width, thickness of classic trigeminal neuralgia patients on the symptomatic side were not different significantly from the asymptomatic side (P>0.05). The trigeminal nerve root of classic trigeminal neuralgia patients on the symptomatic side were atrophy.The length of trigeminal nerve root on the symptomatic side on the oblique sagittal reconstruction images were 18.275±5.604mm.The turn angles of the nerves passing the petrosal bone were 153.40±9.412(?) .Conclusions and significance:The study indicates that trigeminal nerve root on the symptomatic side were atropy in the patients with classic trigeminal neuralgia. The reason may be radiofrequency thermocoagulation operation history or long history of microvascular compression. The 3D-FSPGR Images of trigeminal nerve and trigeminal ganglion were pretty clear.In one side,we cluld make sure the relationships of trigeminal nerve and vessels.In the other side,we could make morphological observation and measurements.Furthermore,we could syncretize bone CT images in navigation.It would supply pefect images for the trigeminal nerve microvascular decompression surgery, navigation aids radiofrequency therapy and radiation neurosurgery.