Objective

A precise and accurate evaluation of neurovascular relationships in patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) scheduled for microvascular decompression is necessary. Thus, we constructed and evaluated a fusion imaging technique combining multi-source heterogeneous imaging data from three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) and computerized tomography venoangiography (CTV), which enabled use of virtual reality to preoperatively assess the neurovascular relationships, in patients with ITN scheduled for microvascular decompression.

Methods

A single-center observational study. In total, eight patients with ITN scheduled for microvascular decompression were included. Patients underwent three-dimensional MR imaging with time-of-flight (TOF) and fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (FIESTA) sequences and CTV before microvascular decompression. A fusion imaging technique, combining MR-TOF, MR-FIESTA, and CTV images, was used to construct a three-dimensional model with information regarding the facial and auditory nerves, brain tissue, skull, arteries and veins. The positions of the trigeminal nerve and the responsible vessels were observed. The agreement between intraoperative neurovascular compression findings and preoperative evaluation results, and the duration required to determine the neurovascular relationships, were evaluated.

Results

The neurovascular relationships as determined with the fusion imaging technique were consistent with intraoperative neurovascular compression findings in all patients. Moreover, the assessment duration was significantly shorter with the fusion imaging technique than with the three-dimensional MR (P<0.05). The rate of an accurate assessment was significantly higher with the fusion imaging technique than with three-dimensional MR (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The fusion imaging technique is a useful tool for the diagnosis and decision-making process based on neurovascular relationships in patients with ITN scheduled for microvascular decompression.

中文翻译：

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微血管减压术前神经血管关系的评估：在特发性三叉神经痛患者中使用 Brainvis 进行可视化

客观的

有必要对计划进行微血管减压的特发性三叉神经痛 (ITN) 患者的神经血管关系进行精确和准确的评估。因此，我们构建并评估了一种融合成像技术，该技术结合了来自 3D 磁共振 (MR) 和计算机断层扫描血管造影 (CTV) 的多源异构成像数据，该技术能够使用虚拟现实术前评估患有以下疾病的患者的神经血管关系。 ITN 计划进行微血管减压。

方法

一项单中心观察性研究。总共包括 8 名计划进行微血管减压的 ITN 患者。患者在微血管减压前接受了具有飞行时间 (TOF) 的三维 MR 成像和采用稳态采集 (FIESTA) 序列和 CTV 的快速成像。融合成像技术，结合 MR-TOF、MR-FIESTA 和 CTV 图像，用于构建包含面部和听觉神经、脑组织、颅骨、动脉和静脉信息的三维模型。观察三叉神经和负责血管的位置。评估了术中神经血管压迫结果与术前评估结果之间的一致性，以及确定神经血管关系所需的持续时间。

结果

融合成像技术确定的神经血管关系与所有患者的术中神经血管压迫结果一致。此外，融合成像技术的评估时间明显短于三维MR（P<0.05）。融合成像技术的准确评估率显着高于三维MR（P<0.05）。

结论

融合成像技术是一种有用的工具，可用于根据计划进行微血管减压的 ITN 患者的神经血管关系进行诊断和决策过程。