N. Saeki et al., Demonstration of the postcommissural fibres of the fornix in short-inversion time inversion-recovery imaging on a high-field system, NEURORADIOL, 43(7), 2001, pp. 547-550
Short-inversion time inversion-recovery (STIR) imaging using a 3 tesla syst
em was assessed to reveal the postcommissural fibres (PF) of the fornix, wh
ich have rarely been highlighted neuroradiologically in the clinical settin
g. We studied 27 normal subjects. Sequence parameters were TR/TE/TI 8000/52
/ 150 ms. STIR was expected to take advantage of the high signal-to-noise r
atio of a high-field system, due to the long repetition time. PF were ident
ifiable in axial and coronal slices in all cases. They were bordered anteri
orly and superiorly by the anterior commissure and posteriorly and inferior
ly by the mamillary body. Behind the anterior commissure, they ran in an ar
chshaped posterior and inferior course in the hypothalamic nuclei and joine
d the mamillary body anterolaterally. They usually extended through three 3
-mm slices (with 1 mm interslice gap) in anteroposterior and vertical dimen
sions. Little variation was observed in their course or size. Demonstration
of the PF would provide a more detailed correlation of human neuroanatomy
to hypothalamic function and individualised understanding of hypothalamic p
athology and influence therapy.