Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning

ABSTRACT Background Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance neurography (ceMRN) can enhance brachial plexus visualization and quality of imaging. However, the interval between contrast injection and scanning that provides the highest‐quality images is not known. Methods Fifteen patients underwent brach...

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Main Authors: Jun Xu, Xiaoli Hu, Xiaoyun Su, Shen Gui, Ziqiao Lei, Xiaoming Liu, Xiangzhi Zhou, Lixia Wang, Wenjun Wu, Xiangchuang Kong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:iRADIOLOGY
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ird3.120
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author Jun Xu
Xiaoli Hu
Xiaoyun Su
Shen Gui
Ziqiao Lei
Xiaoming Liu
Xiangzhi Zhou
Lixia Wang
Wenjun Wu
Xiangchuang Kong
author_facet Jun Xu
Xiaoli Hu
Xiaoyun Su
Shen Gui
Ziqiao Lei
Xiaoming Liu
Xiangzhi Zhou
Lixia Wang
Wenjun Wu
Xiangchuang Kong
author_sort Jun Xu
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance neurography (ceMRN) can enhance brachial plexus visualization and quality of imaging. However, the interval between contrast injection and scanning that provides the highest‐quality images is not known. Methods Fifteen patients underwent brachial plexus imaging using the 3D T2‐NerveView sequence with a scanning duration of 5 min. A consecutive six‐phase scan was initiated immediately at the start of contrast agent injection. Subsequently, all patients' images were classified into six groups according to the phases: group A (phase 1, delay 0 min), group B (phase 2, delay 5 min), group C (phase 3, delay 10 min), group D (phase 4, delay 15 min), group E (phase 5, delay 20 min), and group F (phase 6, delay 25 min). The image quality in each group was assessed based on nerve signal (signalnerve), muscle signal (signalmuscle), lymph node signal (signallymph node), background noise (BN), signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and subjective score. Results Signalnerve, signalmuscle, BN, and SNR did not significantly differ among the six groups (p > 0.05). However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in signallymph node (F = 16.067), CNR (F = 9.495), and subjective score (χ2 = 23.586). As the scanning delay increased, signallymph node intensity gradually increased whereas the CNR gradually decreased. The subjective score was significantly higher in groups B (4.83 ± 0.24), C (4.90 ± 0.21), D (4.87 ± 0.30), E (4.83 ± 0.31), and F (4.83 ± 0.31) than in group A (4.47 ± 0.30). Conclusion We recommend performing brachial plexus ceMRN 5 min after contrast injection. With this delay, the brachial plexus can be visualized optimally with minimal interference from background signals.
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spelling doaj-art-822a7e8d4ff24efd997b889097355a912025-08-20T03:13:22ZengWileyiRADIOLOGY2834-28602834-28792025-04-013216817510.1002/ird3.120Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed ScanningJun Xu0Xiaoli Hu1Xiaoyun Su2Shen Gui3Ziqiao Lei4Xiaoming Liu5Xiangzhi Zhou6Lixia Wang7Wenjun Wu8Xiangchuang Kong9Department of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaClinical Science Philips Healthcare Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida USADepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaDepartment of Radiology Union Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei ChinaABSTRACT Background Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance neurography (ceMRN) can enhance brachial plexus visualization and quality of imaging. However, the interval between contrast injection and scanning that provides the highest‐quality images is not known. Methods Fifteen patients underwent brachial plexus imaging using the 3D T2‐NerveView sequence with a scanning duration of 5 min. A consecutive six‐phase scan was initiated immediately at the start of contrast agent injection. Subsequently, all patients' images were classified into six groups according to the phases: group A (phase 1, delay 0 min), group B (phase 2, delay 5 min), group C (phase 3, delay 10 min), group D (phase 4, delay 15 min), group E (phase 5, delay 20 min), and group F (phase 6, delay 25 min). The image quality in each group was assessed based on nerve signal (signalnerve), muscle signal (signalmuscle), lymph node signal (signallymph node), background noise (BN), signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), and subjective score. Results Signalnerve, signalmuscle, BN, and SNR did not significantly differ among the six groups (p > 0.05). However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in signallymph node (F = 16.067), CNR (F = 9.495), and subjective score (χ2 = 23.586). As the scanning delay increased, signallymph node intensity gradually increased whereas the CNR gradually decreased. The subjective score was significantly higher in groups B (4.83 ± 0.24), C (4.90 ± 0.21), D (4.87 ± 0.30), E (4.83 ± 0.31), and F (4.83 ± 0.31) than in group A (4.47 ± 0.30). Conclusion We recommend performing brachial plexus ceMRN 5 min after contrast injection. With this delay, the brachial plexus can be visualized optimally with minimal interference from background signals.https://doi.org/10.1002/ird3.120brachial plexuscompressed sensingdelayed scanningimage qualitymagnetic resonance neurography
spellingShingle Jun Xu
Xiaoli Hu
Xiaoyun Su
Shen Gui
Ziqiao Lei
Xiaoming Liu
Xiangzhi Zhou
Lixia Wang
Wenjun Wu
Xiangchuang Kong
Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
iRADIOLOGY
brachial plexus
compressed sensing
delayed scanning
image quality
magnetic resonance neurography
title Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
title_full Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
title_fullStr Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
title_short Optimizing Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Brachial Plexus With Delayed Scanning
title_sort optimizing contrast enhanced magnetic resonance neurography of the brachial plexus with delayed scanning
topic brachial plexus
compressed sensing
delayed scanning
image quality
magnetic resonance neurography
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ird3.120
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