Analysis of dynamic enhanced MRI of the oral and maxillofacial region

Abstract

Six healthy volunteers underwent dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to evaluate the enhancement pattern of normal structures of the oral and maxillofacial region. Dynamic enhanced MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T superconducting MR Imager and a T 1 weighted spin echo sequence in the coronal plane (five volunteers were evaluated at the mandibular molar plane, and one at the submandibular gland). The results of these study were as follows:
1. The mucosal surface of the inferior and middle conchae, nasal wall, hard palate, and tongue showed a short time to peak and a gradual wash-out pattern.
2. The submandibular gland and the sublingual space, which contained the sublingual gland, showed a short time to peak and a rapid wash-out pattern.
3. The intrinsic muscles of the tongue appeared as structures with higher signal intensity than extrinsic muscles on precontrast scans, and showed a long time to peak and a gradual wash-out pattern.
4. The bone marrow of the mandible, subcutaneous fat, and genioglossus muscle showed a pattern of no change.