Preliminary study on development effect and imaging time window of 3D fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery sequence of magnetic resonance imaging in Meniere's disease

Objective To study the development effect of 3D fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence in detecting cochlea and vestibule in patients with Meniere's disease after eustachian tube (ET) administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), and to explore the optimum time window of 3D-FLAIR for detecting the enhancement of inner ear in patients with Meniere's disease. Methods 12 patients with Meniere's disease in our hospital were included as study subject. The inner ear 3D-FLAIR imaging was performed at 4 h, 12 h, and 24 h after ET injection of Gd-DTPA. Signal-noise ratio (SNR) and development effect of the affected cochlea and vestibule in 3D-FLAIR sequence were compared. Results The signal intensity of the vestibule increased continuously within 24 h after ET injection of 7 times-diluted Gd-DTPA, with the peak signal occurred at 24 h after Gd-DTPA injection; and the signal intensity of the cochlea decreased slightly within 24 h after Gd-DTPA injection, with the peak signal occurred at 12 h after Gd-DTPA injection, but without statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion In 3D-FLAIR examination, optimum development of vestibule was observed at 24 h after contrast medium Gd-DTPA injection, and cochlea scanning could be performed at 12-24 h after contrast medium Gd-DTPA injection. Key words: Three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequence; Magnetic resonance imaging; Meniere's disease