Fundamental and clinical evaluation for the optimization of diagnostic imaging of the temporal bone using 3T MRI

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The purpose of this research is to decide appropriate protocols of high-resolution MR imaging for the temporal bone pathologies at 3T, especially about 3D high-resolution imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).For 3D high-resolution imaging, a fast spin echo sequence was better than a gradient echo sequence because of its less vulnerability to susceptibility effects.We obtained following results about DWI. 1) A single shot EPI (echo-planar imaging) sequence was not suitable because of its vulnerability to susceptibility. 2) ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) value could enhance the diagnostic capability of DWI for a cholesteatoma. 3) DWI using 3D PSIF, one of non-EPI sequences, could be a robust sequence for temporal bone pathologies because of its high spatial resolution and less susceptibility artifacts. 4) DWI using readout-segmented EPI provided higher image quality and lesion conspicuity than single shot EPI. However, this technique had some problems to be resolved.