title: Imaging of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves.
abstract: The origination and course of the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory cranial nerves explains their function and localizes pathology. Abnormalities of these lower cranial nerves may be intrinsic or extrinsic and is due to a multiplicity of disease processes. The clinical presentation of the involved cranial nerve helps to guide imaging evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging without and with contrast is the mainstay of imaging of cranial nerves IX, X and XI pathology, but computed tomography provides substantial information as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-2675, USA. Ted.Larson@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Theodore C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aulino
authors.forename: Fred J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Laine
mesh_terms: D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media