en Radiobiology Radiobiology تحقيق بديع Original Research <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: To explore the efficacy and optimal modality of three-dimensional (3D) MRI sequences in the preoperative detection of neurovascular compressions (NVCs) in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Materials and Methods: Forty-nine cases of typical unilateral TN had undergone 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D-TOF MRA), 3D fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA), and contrast-enhanced 3D spoiled gradient-recalled sequence (3D-SPGR) on a 3 Tesla MR scanner. Neurovascular relationships (including neurovascular contact and position and the nature of the offending vessels) on MR images were reviewed by a neuroradiologist who was unaware of the clinical findings. Subsequently, microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery was performed on all patients. Comparison was made between the imaging results and surgical findings. Results: MVD verified NVC in 48 (98%) symptomatic nerves, while 3D-TOF MRA, 3D-FIESTA, and 3D-SPGR revealed NVC in 38 (78%), 48 (98%), and 47 (96%) cases, respectively. Agreement between the position of NVC, as defined by 3D-FIESTA (&kappa; = 0.86) or 3D-SPGR (&kappa; = 0.83) and surgical findings, was excellent. Moreover, excellent agreement was confirmed between the nature of compressing vessels as defined by 3D-FIESTA in combination with 3D-TOF MRA (&kappa; = 0.95) or contrast-enhanced 3D-SPGR in combination with 3D-TOF MRA (&kappa; = 0.92) and surgical findings. Conclusions: NVCs were visualized with good sensitivity and specificity with 3D MRI sequences in TN. We propose that 3D-FIESTA combined with 3D-TOF MRA is a safe, convenient, and efficacious MRI sequence for revealing NVCs and is crucial for the preoperative diagnosis and surgical planning of MVD.</div> &nbsp; Trigeminal neuralgia, Magnetic resonance, Neurovascular compression, Facial pain, Microvascular decompression. 67 73 http://ijrr.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2188-63&slc_lang=en&sid=1 W. Jiang 7900319475328460020919 7900319475328460020919 No Department of Radiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China B. Liu 7900319475328460020920 7900319475328460020920 No First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China Y. Liu 7900319475328460020921 7900319475328460020921 No Department of Radiology, Changle People's Hospital, Changle 262400, China. J. Wang 7900319475328460020922 7900319475328460020922 No Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China Q. Ding 7900319475328460020923 7900319475328460020923 No Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China H. Ji 7900319475328460020924 7900319475328460020924 No Department of Critical Care Medicine Ward 3, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China Y. Cui 7900319475328460020925 7900319475328460020925 No Department of Radiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China Y. Wang 7900319475328460020926 7900319475328460020926 No First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China Q. Pang 7900319475328460020927 7900319475328460020927 No Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China Q. Zeng qingshizeng@outlook.com 7900319475328460020928 7900319475328460020928 Yes Department of Radiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China