Travis A. Abele1,
K. Craig Goodrich2, Seong-Eun Kim2, Gretchen Mae Oakley3,
Joshua D. Kaggie2, J. Rock Hadley2, Dennis L. Parker2,
Richard H. Wiggins III1, 3
1Radiology,
University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States;
2UCAIR, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; 3Surgery,
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt
Lake City, UT, United States
High-resolution MRI is valuable for evaluation of the inner ear. Using a novel composite gradient system, operating at double gradient strength, we sought to demonstrate improved spatial resolution of the inner ear on 3T MRI. Deceased guinea pigs were imaged with 3D-CISS using the composite gradient system and conventional body gradients alone. 3D-FLASH after intratympanic gadolinium administration was performed with the composite gradients. Composite gradient CISS achieved 8-fold greater resolution with only 61% increased imaging time. 12 hour averaged FLASH images demonstrated the ultra-thin vestibular membrane of the cochlea. Potential clinical applications include better detection of endolymphatic hydrops and cholesteatomas.
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