Magnetic Resonance Angiography Using Fresh Blood Imaging in Oral and Maxillofacial Regions

摘要

The present paper provides general dentists with an introduction to the clinical applications and significance of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Specifically, the method and characteristics of MRA are first explained using the relevant MR sequences. Next, clinical applications to the oral and maxillofacial regions, such as identification of hemangiomas and surrounding vessels by MRA, are discussed. Moreover, the clinical significance of MRA for other regions is presented to elucidate future clinical applications of MRA in the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is very important and significant for doctors to determine the status of vascular-related diseases such as thrombosis and arteriosclerosis and to precisely visualize the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the vasculature before surgery. In dental fields, understanding the 3D structure of the vasculature is necessary and important for surgical operations on tumors and cysts. The most precise evaluation technique is conventional angiography (CR) using contrast medium. In CR, if the treatment should be applied for the status of vessels, the technique was continuously followed by the intervention radiology such as the embolization of arteries with arteriosclerosis. Therefore, the CR is a firm position for elucidating the status of vascular-related disease such as thrombosis and arteriosclerosis, and precisely visualization of 3D vasculatures at the preoperations. However, the risk of a new focal neurological deficit caused by CR is about 0.14% ~ 0.5%, and this risk rises to 1.3% ~ 2.6% in patients investigated for stroke and transient ischemic attacks, Therefore, it is important to identify the 3D structure of the vasculature of the arterial and venous systems as noninvasively as possible. To determine the 3D structure of the vasculature as noninvasively as possible, ultrasonography (US) is easy to use clinically.