SHINKEI—a novel 3D isotropic MR neurography technique: technical advantages over 3DIRTSE-based imaging

Objectives Technical assessment of SHINKEI pulse sequence and conventional 3DIRTSE for LS plexus MR neurography. Methods Twenty-one MR neurography examinations of the LS plexus were performed at 3 T, using 1.5-mm isotropic 3DIRTSE and SHINKEI sequences. Images were evaluated for motion and pulsation artefacts, nerve signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, nerve-to-fat ratio, muscle-to-fat ratio, fat suppression homogeneity and depiction of LS plexus branches. Paired Student t test was used to assess differences in nerve conspicuity ( p