title: [Visualization of the lower cranial nerves by 3D-FIESTA].
abstract: MR cisternography has been introduced for use in neuroradiology. This method is capable of visualizing tiny structures such as blood vessels and cranial nerves in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space because of its superior contrast resolution. The cranial nerves and small vessels are shown as structures of low intensity surrounded by marked hyperintensity of the CSF. In the present study, we evaluated visualization of the lower cranial nerves (glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory) by the three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) sequence and multiplanar reformation (MPR) technique. The subjects were 8 men and 3 women, ranging in age from 21 to 76 years (average, 54 years). We examined the visualization of a total of 66 nerves in 11 subjects by 3D-FIESTA. The results were classified into four categories ranging from good visualization to non-visualization. In all cases, all glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves were identified to some extent, while accessory nerves were visualized either partially or entirely in only 16 cases. The total visualization rate was about 91%. In conclusion, 3D-FIESTA may be a useful method for visualization of the lower cranial nerves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ishikawaken Saiseikai Kanazawa Hospital.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takada
mesh_terms: D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*