Recent Advances in MRI of the Head and Neck, Skull Base and Cranial Nerves: New and Evolving Sequences, Analyses and Clinical Applications

Overview

Journal Br J Radiol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Radiology

Date 2019 Sep 19

PMID 31529977

Citations 15

Authors

Philip Touska

Steve E J Connor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

MRI is an invaluable diagnostic tool in the investigation and management of patients with pathology of the head and neck. However, numerous technical challenges exist, owing to a combination of fine anatomical detail, complex geometry (that is subject to frequent motion) and susceptibility effects from both endogenous structures and exogenous implants. Over recent years, there have been rapid developments in several aspects of head and neck imaging including higher resolution, isotropic 3D sequences, diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor imaging as well as permeability and perfusion imaging. These have led to improvements in anatomic, dynamic and functional imaging. Further developments using contrast-enhanced 3D FLAIR for the delineation of endolymphatic structures and black bone imaging for osseous structures are opening new diagnostic avenues. Furthermore, technical advances in compressed sensing and metal artefact reduction have the capacity to improve imaging speed and quality, respectively. This review explores novel and evolving MRI sequences that can be employed to evaluate diseases of the head and neck, including the skull base.

Citing Articles

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