| Objective:To investigate the imaging anatomy of thoracic DRG which micro-invasive interventional treatment needed, and assess the value of commonly imaging techniques for thoracic DRG.Methods:Autopsy observation: Six thoracic spines of healthy corpses were observed with anatomy and imaging methods including CTM+ epidural air contrast, FSE-STIR, fs-FRFSE T2WI, 3D FIESTA, The characteristic of DRG size, spatial directions and location type were analyzed. The value of such imaging methods for assessment thoracic DRG were respectively Compared. Clinical observation: The measurement thoracic DRG of 30 healthy volunteers were performed by employing 3D FIESTA sequence. The volume, spatial direction, location type of DRG were respectively analyzed and compared to the results of autopsy observation.Results:Anatomy observation: The average volume of T1-12 DRG were 163.5±70.0mm~3, 146.2±66.9 mm~3, 71.1±61.4mm~3, 53.6±21.3 mm~3, 49.5±17.4 mm~3, 58.8±30.8 mm~3, 67.1±47.2mm~3, 63.8±30.5mm~3, 86.4±39.4 mm~3, 165.0±61.0 mm~3, 190.0±56.3 mm~3, 220.5±77.9mm~3, respectively, P<0.05;, the average running angles of T1-12 DRG in coronal plane were 73.3±2.5°, 75.2±1.9°, 82.8±2.5°, 85.3±1.7°, 87.0±2.3°, 65.4±40.1°, 49.8±45.6°, 50.8±47.2°, 4.7±26.9°, -8.3±3.1°, -18.8±2.4°, -27.0±1.5°,respectively, P<0.05;, the average traveling angles of T1-12 DRG in axial plane were 16.8±4.8°, 16.1±4.9°, 7.0±2.7°, 5.7±1.9°, 4.8±1.3°, 4.8±1.1°, 4.6±1.3°, 5.6±2.2°, 5.4±1.9°, 5.7±2.7°, 6.0±2.9°, 5.5±1.6°, respectively, P<0.05; There were three location type of DRG in this group, including extraforaminal type (60.4% (87/144)), intraforaminal type(36.8% (53/144)), and spinal canal type(2.8 %(4/144)). Four DRG were confirmed normal variants (2.8%, 4/144) by pathology in 6 thoracic spines. The detected rate of DRG were 90.3%(130/144)with CTM+epidural air contrast, 53.5%(77/144)with FSE-STIR, 88.2% (127/144)with fs-FRFSE T2WI, 89.5%(129/144)with 3DFIESTA, respectively, P<0.05. Clinical observation: The average size of T1-12 DRG in volunteers were 136.3±27.6mm~3,129.3±38.6mm~3,81.4±33.4mm~3, 74.1±33.1mm~3, 67.7±22.4mm~3, 67.1±33.9mm~3, 68.6±39.7mm~3, 68.0±39.5mm~3, 91.7±32.1mm~3, 145.9±25.2mm~3, 161.4±40.0mm~3, 166.2±43.3mm~3, respectively, P < 0.05. In coronal plane, the average running angles of T1-12 DRG in vivo were 75.7±3.9°,80.1±3.3°, 84.1±3.0°, 87.9±1.3°, 86.7±2.6°, 72.4±33.8°, 42.4±46.4°, 42.4±46.4°, 37.1±47.6°, -4.6±2.5°, -15.5±2.4°, -24.5±3.2°, -31.6±4.0°,respectively. The average angles of T1-12 DRG in axial plane were 21.6±3.8°, 16.1±3.6°, 7.4±2.0°, 6.0±1.4°, 6.1±1.6°, 5.2±1.5°, 5.8±1.4°, 5.7±1.9°, 5.5±1.8°, 6.0±2.4°, 6.3±2.0°, 8.7±1.5°, respectively. There were three location type of DRG in volunteers groups including EF type 60.6 %( 410/677), IF type 37.7% (255/677), and SC type 1.7 %(12/677).The trend and distribution of thoracic DRG in size, running angles and location type distribution in volunteers group were consistently with in specimens group, and there were seven DRG (6.9%, 7/677) manifested variations in vivo. By employing 3D FIESTA sequence, the detected rate of thoracic DRG was 94.0 %( 677/720) in volunteers. Conclusions:Thoracic DRG showed a feature of segmental difference in DRG size, spatial running and location. There was a tendency with big at both ends and small in the middle in the volume of thoracic DRG(from T1 to T12).The running angle of thoracic DRG (from T1 to T12 ) in coronal plane showed a tendency with gradual transition changes from head side to foot side. The running angle of DRG in axial plane, apart from T1-2 DRG were running more ventrally, were closed to horizontal. EF type was the mainly location type of DRG in thoracic spine with dominantly located in T1-6 segments. Normally, DRG variations may encounter in thoracic spine. 3D FIESTA sequence can provide accurate preoperative imaging evaluation on thoracic DRG.
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