Abstract

Info

Title:: Application of 3D MERGE sequence versus 3D SPACE STIR sequence in the examination of lumbar disc herniation

Author(s):: LI Lan1; YIN Xiaodan2; LI Xuxue1; WU Haiyan1; ZHANG Tao1; 1. Department of Medical Imaging, Sichuan Province Orthopedic Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China 2. Department of Radiology, Chenghua District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610051, China

Keywords:: Keywords: lumbar disc herniation 3D MERGE 3D SPACE STIR nerve root diameter image quality

Abstract:: Abstract: Objective To compare the performances of 3D MERGE sequence and 3D SPACE STIR sequence in detecting lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods The clinical data and MRI data of 135 LDH patients admitted between January 2020 and November 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were examined using conventional MRI, 3D MERGE sequence and 3D SPACE STIR sequence. The consistency of 3D MERGE sequence and 3D SPACE STIR sequence in measuring the diameter of nerve root was analyzed, and the image quality parameters ［signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)］ and image definition score of the two sequences were evaluated. Results There were no statistically significant differences in L3-S1 nerve root diameters measured by 3D MERGE sequence and 3D SPACE STIR sequence (P>0.05), and the diameters of L3, L4, L5 and S1 measured by the two sequences showed high correlations (r=0.957, 0.986, 0.975, 0.972, P<0.05). Compared with 3D SPACE STIR sequence, 3D MERGE sequence had higher SNR and CNR, scored better on image definition, and displayed nerve root more clearly (P<0.05). Conclusion 3D MERGE sequence and 3D SPACE STIR sequence have high consistency in the measurement of LDH nerve root diameter. 3D MERGE sequence can display the anatomical morphology of nerve root more clearly as compared with 3D SPACE STIR sequence, and the former one has higher image quality.