AUTHOR=Liu Hui , Xiao Zhibo , Tao Li , Tang Mingmei , Xu Yong , Pan Yuanrui , Zhang Ke , Qiu Xueke , Lv Fajin TITLE=3D MR neurography with gadolinium contrast to improve the visualization of pelvic nerves and the branches JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1394431 DOI=10.3389/fphys.2024.1394431 ISSN=1664-042X ABSTRACT=Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of 3D NerveVIEW sequence with gadolinium contrast on the visualization of pelvic nerves and their branches compared to that without contrast.

Methods

Participants were scanned twice using 3D NerveVIEW sequence with and without gadolinium contrast to acquire pelvic nerve images. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and contrast ratio of the nerves were calculated and compared to determine the quality of images. To subjectively assess, using a 3-point scale, branch nerves critical to therapeutic decision-making, including the pelvic splanchnic nerve and pelvic plexus, the superior gluteal nerve, and the pudendal nerve.

Results

In the 32 eligible participants after using contrast, the CNRs of the images of nerve-to-bone and nerve-to-vessel significantly increased (p < 0.05). The CR of the images with contrast of all nerve-to-surrounding tissues (i.e., bone, muscle, blood vessels, and fat) were also found significantly higher (p < 0.05). The assessment of observers also shows higher scores for images with contrast compared to images without contrast.

Conclusion

The 3D NerveVIEW sequence combined with gadolinium contrast improved vascular suppression, increased the contrast between pelvic nerves and surrounding tissue, and enhanced the visualization of nerves and their branches. This study may be helpful for the technically challenging preoperative planning of pelvic diseases surgery.