Evaluation of magnetic resonance tomographic angiography in the diagnosis of hemifacial spasm / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the imaging technique of magnetic resonance tomographic angiography (MRTA) in the investigation of etiology of hemifacial spasm (HFS). Methods Multiplane MRTA imaging of facial nerve of both sides was performed in all 121 HFS patients. Among them, 23 HFS patients received MVD subsequently. Results Among the 121 HFS patients, 119 patients had one side hemifacial spasm and 2 patients had double side hemifacial spasm,among them, neurovascular compression was found in the root entry zone (REZ) of facial nerve in 116 cases by MRTA,and the sensitivity was 94 3%;among the 119 cases which had no HFS,no neurovascular compression was found in the REZ of facial nerve in 112 cases by MRTA,and the specificity was 94 1%. Among 23 patients who received one side MVD, 21 patients had results that agreed with the multiplanar MRTA views. Conclusion Multiplanar MRTA was considered to be a very useful imaging technique for the study of etiology of HFS, and it also seemed to be a very important preoperative examination for MVD.