title: Cisternal segment of the normal abducent nerve: MR imaging with 3D fast asymmetric spin echo sequence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to reveal the techniques and findings of the 3D fast asymmetric spin echo (3D FASE) sequence for imaging the cisternal segment of the normal abducent nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy volunteers were examined using the 3D FASE sequence, and oblique coronal and oblique sagittal images were reconstructed according to the specific course of the abducent nerve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The abducent nerve was identified with certainty and displayed on the oblique coronal and oblique sagittal reconstructed images in 80% of cases using Dorello's canal as landmark. The bilateral nerve of one case and unilateral nerve of two cases could not be identified and displayed. The mean diameter of the cisternal segment was 1.39 mm on 3D FASE image.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D FASE sequence can be used to image the cisternal segment of the abducent nerve with Dorello's canal as a landmark.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Songbai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged