Question 2396
{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":11803,"text":"3D T1 sampling perfection with application optimized contrast using different flip-angle evolutions (SPACE)"},{"id":11804,"text":"contrast-enhanced 3D steady state free precession (3D-SSFP)"},{"id":11805,"text":"contrast-enhanced fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)"},{"id":11806,"text":"T2 turbo spin echo (TSE)"}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":11804,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/articles/steady-state-free-precession-mri-2\"\u003e3D-SSFP\u003c/a\u003e (e.g. CISS, FIESTA or DRIVE) produce high resolution heavily T2-weighted images that can demonstrate the cisternal segments of cranial nerves in high detail. By performing the sequence after intravenous contrast, the signal intensity of venous blood in the cavernous sinuses is increased, with the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus becoming much more conspicuous.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e3D spin echo sequences with variable flip angles, such as SPACE, can be used for pre-contrast imaging of the brain but the cranial nerves would not be well resolved within the cavernous sinuses using this sequence.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContrast-enhanced FLAIR is not useful for cavernous sinus imaging. Although high-resolution coronal T2 TSE images may allow the identification of larger nerves within the cavernous sinus, they are inferior to contrast-enhanced 3D-SSFP for this.\u003c/p\u003e","id":2396,"imageUrl":null,"imageAttribution":null,"imageAttributionCaseInfo":null,"firstQuestionPath":"/questions/2398","nextQuestionPath":null,"relatedArticles":[{"id":5258,"title":"Cavernous sinus","link":"/articles/cavernous-sinus?lang=us"},{"id":67259,"title":"Cavernous sinus syndrome","link":"/articles/cavernous-sinus-syndrome?lang=us"},{"id":12940,"title":"Cavernous sinus mass","link":"/articles/cavernous-sinus-mass?lang=us"},{"id":9206,"title":"Tolosa-Hunt syndrome","link":"/articles/tolosa-hunt-syndrome-3?lang=us"},{"id":71525,"title":"Knosp classification of cavernous sinus invasion by pituitary macroadenomas","link":"/articles/knosp-classification-of-cavernous-sinus-invasion-by-pituitary-macroadenomas?lang=us"}],"alsoUsedIn":[{"id":1343,"kind":"Course","title":"2022 Virtual Conference Private Use - page 1343","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/2022-virtual-conference-private-use/pages/1343"},{"id":1200,"kind":"Course","title":"2022 Virtual Conference Private Use - page 1200","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/2022-virtual-conference-private-use/pages/1200"},{"id":248,"kind":"LiveSchedule","title":"248","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/admin/live_schedules/248"},{"id":153,"kind":"LiveSchedule","title":"153","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/admin/live_schedules/153"},{"id":1261,"kind":"Course","title":"Neuroradiology Lectures - page 1261","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/neuroradiology-lectures/pages/1261"},{"id":1261,"kind":"Course","title":"2022 Virtual Conference Private Use - page 1261","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/2022-virtual-conference-private-use/pages/1261"},{"id":1261,"kind":"Course","title":"New test course - page 1261","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/new-test-course/pages/1261"},{"id":1449,"kind":"Course","title":"2023 Virtual Conference Private Use - page 1449","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/2023-virtual-conference-private-use/pages/1449"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhich of the following MRI sequences is most likely to best allow the identification of individual cranial nerves within the cavernous sinuses?\u003c/p\u003e","menuLinks":[{"text":"Report problem with question","url":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO3soWYhOjJ7yErSysyCe5V4A1CqW7WK3rDA7MtAkecMGqNw/viewform?entry.1624461248\u0026entry.553583435=https://radiopaedia.org/questions/2396"}],"attemptsPercentages":[{"alternativeId":"11804","percentage":76},{"alternativeId":"11806","percentage":6},{"alternativeId":"11805","percentage":4},{"alternativeId":"11803","percentage":14}],"promptToLogin":false,"questionManager":false,"articleId":"cavernous-sinus-thrombosis"}