Clinical Value of 1-Hour Delayed Gadolinium-DTPA Enhanced 3D T1 SPACE MR Images in Bell's Palsy

Abstract

Background: This study aims to examine the clinical value of 1-hour delayed gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced3D T1 SPACE MRI in Bell's palsy. Methods: Patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy between January 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively selected. Both routine and 1-hour delayed contrast-enhanced MRI were analyzed retrospectively. Signal intensity ratios of the facial nerve to that of the adenohypophysis were calculated. Results: The affected side's signal intensity ratio was higher than the unaffected side in the labyrinthian and geniculate ganglion segments on both routine and 1-hour delayed contrast-enhanced MRI. Additionally, the signal intensity ratio of the affected side labyrinthian and geniculate ganglion segments in 1-hour delayed contrast-enhance MRI was higher than routine contrast-enhance MRI. Conclusions: A contrast-enhance MRI of Bell’s palsy is functional for detecting inflammatory lesions. Delayed contrast-enhance MRI can indicate a higher distinction in the affected facial nerve.