Abstract：Objective: To delineate normal morphology and anatomy of nerve roots of brachial plexus within the spinal canal on the multiplanar reconstruction images of 3-D balance steady state free precession(balance SSFP). Methods: Twenty cases of normal volunteers and 28 cases in which no abnormal appearance of CTM coming from a consecutive 283 cases were evaluated by 3-D balance SSFP sequence on coronal, sagittal and oblique axial reconstructive images and some data of the nerve roots, 20 cases of normal volunteers were measured. Results: A coronal image clearly demonstrated all of the nerve roots and described the ventral roots as a wing-like configuration and the dorsal roots as a brush-like configuration. A sagittal image on paraspinal cord demonstrated all of the nerve roots and the locating relationships of the upper and lower nerve roots with the corresponding vertebra body. Oblique axial image might display a more continuous roots than one on conventional axial image. Conclusion: Coronal, sagittal and oblique axial reconstructive of 3-D balance-SSFP sequence images was helpful in obtaining more information about the morphology and anatomy of nerve roots of brachial plexus within spinal canal.
2011, Vol. 22 
