Simultaneous Three-dimensional Visualization of the Intra-parotid Facial Nerve and Parotid Duct using a Three-dimensional Reversed FISP Sequence with Diffusion Weighting

Abstract

We visualized the intraparotid facial nerve and parotid duct at 3 tesla using 3-dimensional reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (FSIP) (3D-PSIF) with diffusion weighting. Excellent fat suppression by water-selective excitation, sufficient T₂-weighting of 3D-PSIF, vessel suppression by diffusion weighting, and high spatial resolution allowed the simultaneous visualization. We also present volumetric representation of the facial nerve and duct.