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Peripheral nerve MRI: precision and reproducibility of T2*-derived measurements at 3.0-T

A feasibility study

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Abstract

Objective

To prospectively evaluate the precision and reproducibility of T2*-derived measurements of the peripheral nerves.

Materials and methods

The study was approved by the local ethics committee and written informed consent was obtained. Bilateral upper and lower limb MRI examination was performed in 40 healthy subjects on a 3.0-T scanner. MRI protocol included T1-turbo spin-echo, T2-turbo spin-echo with fat suppression, and multiecho gradient recalled echo. Measurements of T2* times on T2* maps at different anatomical levels were performed. Three authors measured independently and in different sessions at baseline and after 4 weeks. Non-parametric tests and Bland–Altman statistics were used.

Results

Minimum and maximum percentage variability were 10 % and 19 % for T2* (84–91 % of reproducibility). Maximum values of minimum detectable differences between limbs was 16 % (with 95 % CI: 2–37). Intra- and inter-observer agreement of the three radiologists for T2* was considered good. Evaluating the combined influence of the observer and of the repeated measurements the reproducibility was 87–98 %.

Conclusions

T2* measurement of the peripheral nerves is precise and reproducible. The healthy contralateral side can be used as an internal control. Variations in T2* values up to 16 % have to be considered.

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Acknowledgement

The authors state that this work is supported by the Univerisity of Genova with a grant to Alberto Tagliafico (PRA 2014).

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Alberto Tagliafico, Bianca Bignotti, Giulio Tagliafico, Carlo Martinoli contributed equally to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Anatomy, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L.B. Alberti, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Alberto Tagliafico

  2. Radiology Department, University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, 16138, Genoa, Genova, Italy

    Bianca Bignotti & Carlo Martinoli

  3. CNR-IMATI, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Matematica Applicata e Tecnologie Informatiche, Via De Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy

    Giulio Tagliafico

Authors
  1. Alberto Tagliafico
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  2. Bianca Bignotti
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  3. Giulio Tagliafico
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  4. Carlo Martinoli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alberto Tagliafico.

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Tagliafico, A., Bignotti, B., Tagliafico, G. et al. Peripheral nerve MRI: precision and reproducibility of T2*-derived measurements at 3.0-T. Skeletal Radiol 44, 679–686 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2106-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2106-8

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