[Topography of the inferior alveolar nerve in relation to cystic processes of the mandible in dental MRI].
OBJECTIVE
Cystic processes are changing the course of the inferior alveolar nerve in the mandible. This study evaluates the possibility of demonstrating the relationship between space-occupying processes and the course of the neurovascular bundle.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with cystic processes in the mandible (9 keratocystic lesions, 1 eosinophilic granuloma, 1 plasmocytoma, 2 adamantinomas) were examined by MRI (1.5-T magnet, 8-cm surface coil, PD-gradient-echo-sequences in sagittal and coronal orientation, without enhancement) and the results retrospectively evaluated.


RESULTS
The entire course of the nerve could be delineated in all patients. In six patients with minor cystic processes, the nerve was identified in both sagittal and coronal orientation. In seven patients with major cystic lesions, only parts of the nerve were detected in either image orientation, but the nerve could be visualized in its entire length by evaluating coronal and sagittal images side by side.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to delineate the inferior alveolar nerve in its entirety along pathologic mandibular lesions. For large cystic lesions, this requires the evaluation of both coronal and sagittal sections of multidirectional MRI.
Kress
B
B
Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Germany. Bodo_Kress@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Gottschalk
A
A
Anders
L
L
Stippich
C
C
Palm
F
F
Bähren
W
W
Sartor
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004803:Eosinophilic Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve; D008875:Middle Aged; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors