Clincal value of 3D DESS MRI sequences in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spondylosis of nerve root type

DING Xue-wei; YU Ying-xing; GE Min; DING Hong; WA NG Shi-wei

Abstract：Objective To investigate the 3D double‐echo steady‐state precession (dual echo steady state ,DESS) magnet‐ic resonance sequences in displaying the anatomical information of the brachial plexus in spinal canal as well as to explore its clinical value in displaying the relationship betweem the herniated disc and spinal brachial plexus .Methods 35 pa‐tients ,who presented with neck pain ,upper limb numbness ,and other symptoms of neck and brachial plexus nerve root compression and were highly suspected to be associated with cervical spondylosis of nerve root type in clinic ,were subjec‐ted to conventional MRI sequences (sagittal T1WI ,T2WI ,horizontal position T2WI) and 3D DESS sequence .All images from 3D DESS sequences were post‐processed using 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) and surface recombination . Then ,in line with imaging manifestations of the morphology and length of spinal nerve roots of brachial plexus in spinal canal and the relationship between the herniated disc and spinal brachial plexus displayed in the reconstruction images ,two senior physicians evaluated the clincal value of 3D DESS MRI sequences in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis of nerve root type .Results The rates of the ventral roots of brachial plexus in spinal canal displayed by 3D DESS sequence recon‐structed image and conventional MRI T2WI sequence were 94 .3% (33/35) and 88 .6% (31/35) ,respectively ,while ,the rates of dorsal roots by those two modalities were 94 .3% (33/35) and 80% (28/35) .3D DESS sequence was superior to conventional thickness T2 WI images ,with significant difference significant ( P <0 .05) .However ,there was no differ‐ence in displaying the integrity of the ventral roots and dorsal roots of brachial plexus in spinal canal with these two meth‐ods ( P > 0 .05) .Conclusion The reconstructed images from 3D DESS sequence can provide more information on mor‐phology and anatomy of brachial plexus in spinal canal ,clearly show the compressive situation of herniated disc on the nerve roots ,thereby offering the definite basis for clinical treatment .