Redefining Normal Facial Nerve Enhancement: Healthy Subject Comparison of Typical Enhancement Patterns—Unenhanced and Contrast-Enhanced Spin-Echo Versus 3D Inversion Recovery–Prepared Fast Spoiled Gradient-Echo Imaging

Abstract

Significantly greater SI is observed in most facial nerve segments on both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced IR-FSPGR among healthy subjects and may be misinterpreted as pathologic when evaluated in the context of existing enhancement paradigms. Examiners should remain cognizant of normal deviations from expected enhancement patterns in IR-FSPGR imaging to avoid misdiagnosis and other interpretive pitfalls.