3-DIMENSIONAL MR OF THE INNER-EAR WITH STEADY-STATE FREE PRECESSION

PURPOSE: To describe the steady-state free-precession MR sequence and its application to the study of the inner ear. METHOD: The inner ear w as imaged with CT and a 0.5-T MR unit in three dimension, to evaluate the various signals from the lumen of the labyrinth. RESULTS: Normally , the signal from the perilymphatic and endolymphatic spaces is homoge neous. However, among our cases of neurosensory deafness, differences of signal and morphology were seen in patients with otosclerosis, ossi fying labyrinthitis, and inner ear malformations. CONCLUSION: Three-di mensional MR, used together with routine two-dimensional fast spin-ech o, is another diagnostic tool that can provide new data in the evaluat ion of the normal and unhealthy inner ear.