Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38985183›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2025

An unenhanced 3D-FLAIR sequence using long repetition time and constant flip angle to image endolymphatic hydrops.

Menglong Zhao, Huaili Jiang, Shujie Zhang, Kai Liu, Lei Zhou, Di Wu, Xixi Wen, Junpu Hu, Xuan Wang, Zhuang Liu and 2 more

Abstract read
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Article in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Substantially Higher Vestibular Hydrops Agreement in Older Patients Assessed by Non-contrast vs. Contrast-enhanced MRI: A Preliminary Study.Magnetic resonance in medical sciences : MRMS : an official journal of Japan Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine · 2026
    Article
  3. Preliminary Findings on Non-contrast Enhanced Positive Endolymph Images: Limited Delineation of Endolymphatic Space.Magnetic resonance in medical sciences : MRMS : an official journal of Japan Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine · 2025
    Article
  4. The Endolymph Signal in Non-contrast Enhanced 3D-real IR Image Differs between the Ears with and without Significant Endolymphatic Hydrops.Magnetic resonance in medical sciences : MRMS : an official journal of Japan Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Menglong Zhao *Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Huaili Jiang *Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Shujie Zhang *Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Kai LiuDepartment of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Lei ZhouOtolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Di WuDepartment of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Xixi WenUnited Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, 201807, China.
Junpu HuUnited Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, 201807, China.
Xuan WangUnited Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, 201807, China.
Zhuang LiuDepartment of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. liuzhuang201010@126.com.
Yan ShaDepartment of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. cjr.shayan@vip.163.com.
Mengsu ZengDepartment of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China. zeng_mengsu@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2172-9218

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82202102Shanghai Municipal Health Planning Commission Youth Project 20224Y0237
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo evaluate a three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence using a long repetition time (TR) and constant flip angle (CFA) in differentiating between perilymph and endolymph in a phantom study, and unenhanced endolymphatic hydrops (EH) imaging in a patient study.

methodsThree solutions in similar ion and protein concentrations with endolymph, perilymph, and cerebrospinal fluid were prepared for variable flip angle (VFA) 3D-FLAIR (TR 10,000 ms) and CFA (120°) 3D-FLAIR using different TR (10,000, 16,000, and 20,000 ms). Fifty-two patients with probable or definite Meniere's disease received unenhanced CFA (120°) 3D-FLAIR using a long TR (20,000 ms) and 4-h-delay enhanced CFA (120°) 3D-FLAIR (TR 16,000 ms). Image quality, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of them were compared. Agreement in the evaluation of the EH degree between them was analyzed.

resultsIn the phantom study, CNRs between perilymphatic and endolymphatic samples of VFA 3D-FLAIR (TR 10,000 ms) and CFA 3D-FLAIR (TR 10,000, 16,000, and 20,000 ms) were 6.66 ± 1.30, 17.90 ± 2.76, 23.87 ± 3.09, and 28.22 ± 3.15 (p < 0.001). In patient study, average score (3.65 ± 0.48 vs. 4.19 ± 0.40), SNR (34.56 ± 9.80 vs. 51.40 ± 11.27), and CNR (30.66 ± 10.55 vs. 45.08 ± 12.27) of unenhanced 3D-FLAIR were lower than enhanced 3D-FLAIR (p < 0.001). Evaluations of the two sequences showed excellent agreement in the cochlear and vestibule (Kappa value: 0.898 and 0.909).

conclusionsThe CFA 3D-FLAIR sequence using a long TR could be used in unenhanced EH imaging with high accuracy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Unenhanced imaging of endolymphatic hydrops is valuable in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients, especially those who cannot receive contrast-enhanced MRI. KEY POINTS: Ion and protein concentration differences can be utilized in differentiating endolymph and perilymph on MRI. Endolymphatic and perilymphatic samples could be differentiated in vitro on this 3D-FLAIR sequence. This unenhanced 3D-FLAIR sequence is in excellent agreement with the enhanced constant flip angle 3D-FLAIR sequence.

Indexed as

Endolymphatic HydropsImaging, Three-DimensionalMagnetic Resonance ImagingPhantoms, ImagingSignal-To-Noise RatioAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMeniere DiseaseMiddle AgedPerilymphReproducibility of ResultsEar (inner)Endolymphatic hydropsGadoliniumMagnetic resonance imaging

Identifiers

PMID38985183

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.