CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation

BackgroundCT-routine MRI fusion imaging has recently become available to evaluate spinal anatomy before surgery. Due to the 3-5 mm slice thickness and non-isotropic of routine MRI sequence, the CT-routine MRI fusion imaging is not good. The MRI multiple recalled gradient echo (MERGE) sequence is pot...

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Main Authors: Hongyi Li, Hailong Liu, Mengqiang Xiao, Xiaodan Du, Meng Zhang, Jingzhi Ye, Ming Lei, Jun Chen, Jie Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1490033/full
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author Hongyi Li
Hailong Liu
Mengqiang Xiao
Xiaodan Du
Meng Zhang
Jingzhi Ye
Ming Lei
Jun Chen
Jie Chen
author_facet Hongyi Li
Hailong Liu
Mengqiang Xiao
Xiaodan Du
Meng Zhang
Jingzhi Ye
Ming Lei
Jun Chen
Jie Chen
author_sort Hongyi Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCT-routine MRI fusion imaging has recently become available to evaluate spinal anatomy before surgery. Due to the 3-5 mm slice thickness and non-isotropic of routine MRI sequence, the CT-routine MRI fusion imaging is not good. The MRI multiple recalled gradient echo (MERGE) sequence is potentially useful in diagnosis of lumbar degeneration disease due to the better nerve roots visualization, 1 mm slice thickness and its isotropy.PurposeThe present study aimed to evaluate the image quality of CT-3D MERGE fusion images compared with CT and 3D MERGE images in patients with lumbar disc herniation.MethodsFifty-nine patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent both lumbar CT and MRI including 3D-MERGE and routine lumbar MRI sequences were evaluated. All CT, 3D MERGE and CT-3D MERGE fusion images were separately assessed by two radiologists using five-point Likert scoring method based on five aspects: display of bony structure, intervertebral discs, nerve roots, overall anatomical details and image artifacts. Furthermore, two observers documented the sacral slope (SS), L4/5 intervertebral space heights (ISH), width and height of L4/5 intervertebral foramen (FW and FH) on CT and CT-MERGE fusion images.ResultsThere was insufficient evidence to show a difference in bony structure score between CT and CT-3D MERGE fusion images (p = 0.22), but it was significantly higher than that of MERGE (p < 0.001). The scores of intervertebral discs and nerve roots between MERGE and fusion images were not statistically different (p = 0.19 and 0.88), which were higher than CT (all p < 0.001). The overall anatomical detail score of fusion imaging was higher than CT and MERGE (p < 0.001). No significant difference of image artifacts score was found among CT, MERGE and fusion images (p = 0.47). There was no significant difference in SS, ISH, FW, FH values between CT and fusion images (all p > 0.05).ConclusionCT-3D MERGE fusion images exhibit superior image quality to both CT and 3D MERGE for the simultaneous observation of bony structures, intervertebral discs, and nerve roots.
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spelling doaj-art-77c1ea577b9041a68e34b75e826aa3502024-12-13T11:02:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952024-12-011510.3389/fneur.2024.14900331490033CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniationHongyi Li0Hailong Liu1Mengqiang Xiao2Xiaodan Du3Meng Zhang4Jingzhi Ye5Ming Lei6Jun Chen7Jie Chen8Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Medical Imaging, Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Qujing Second People’s Hospital, Qujing, ChinaBackgroundCT-routine MRI fusion imaging has recently become available to evaluate spinal anatomy before surgery. Due to the 3-5 mm slice thickness and non-isotropic of routine MRI sequence, the CT-routine MRI fusion imaging is not good. The MRI multiple recalled gradient echo (MERGE) sequence is potentially useful in diagnosis of lumbar degeneration disease due to the better nerve roots visualization, 1 mm slice thickness and its isotropy.PurposeThe present study aimed to evaluate the image quality of CT-3D MERGE fusion images compared with CT and 3D MERGE images in patients with lumbar disc herniation.MethodsFifty-nine patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent both lumbar CT and MRI including 3D-MERGE and routine lumbar MRI sequences were evaluated. All CT, 3D MERGE and CT-3D MERGE fusion images were separately assessed by two radiologists using five-point Likert scoring method based on five aspects: display of bony structure, intervertebral discs, nerve roots, overall anatomical details and image artifacts. Furthermore, two observers documented the sacral slope (SS), L4/5 intervertebral space heights (ISH), width and height of L4/5 intervertebral foramen (FW and FH) on CT and CT-MERGE fusion images.ResultsThere was insufficient evidence to show a difference in bony structure score between CT and CT-3D MERGE fusion images (p = 0.22), but it was significantly higher than that of MERGE (p < 0.001). The scores of intervertebral discs and nerve roots between MERGE and fusion images were not statistically different (p = 0.19 and 0.88), which were higher than CT (all p < 0.001). The overall anatomical detail score of fusion imaging was higher than CT and MERGE (p < 0.001). No significant difference of image artifacts score was found among CT, MERGE and fusion images (p = 0.47). There was no significant difference in SS, ISH, FW, FH values between CT and fusion images (all p > 0.05).ConclusionCT-3D MERGE fusion images exhibit superior image quality to both CT and 3D MERGE for the simultaneous observation of bony structures, intervertebral discs, and nerve roots.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1490033/full3D MERGECT-3D MERGE fusion imagingimage qualitylumbar disc herniation (LDH)fusion imagenon contrast enhanced MRI
spellingShingle Hongyi Li
Hailong Liu
Mengqiang Xiao
Xiaodan Du
Meng Zhang
Jingzhi Ye
Ming Lei
Jun Chen
Jie Chen
CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
Frontiers in Neurology
3D MERGE
CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging
image quality
lumbar disc herniation (LDH)
fusion image
non contrast enhanced MRI
title CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
title_full CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
title_fullStr CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
title_full_unstemmed CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
title_short CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging improves image quality compared with CT and 3D MERGE in patients with lumbar disc herniation
title_sort ct 3d merge fusion imaging improves image quality compared with ct and 3d merge in patients with lumbar disc herniation
topic 3D MERGE
CT-3D MERGE fusion imaging
image quality
lumbar disc herniation (LDH)
fusion image
non contrast enhanced MRI
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1490033/full
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