Evaluating Instantaneous Perfusion Responses of Parotid Glands to Gustatory Stimulation Using High-Temporal-Resolution Echo-Planar Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

摘要

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parotid glands secrete and empty saliva into the oral cavity rapidly after gustatory stimulation. However, the role of the temporal resolution of DWI in investigating parotid gland function remains uncertain. Our aim was to design a high-temporal-resolution echo-planar DWI pulse sequence and to evaluate the instantaneous MR perfusion responses of the parotid glands to gustatory stimulation.