Quantitative morphology of facial nerve based on three-dimensional reconstruction of temporal bone.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate an effective method of quantitative analysis of the facial nerve and its adjacent structures on the basis of three-dimensional (3D) CT image reconstruction of the temporal bone.


METHODS
The inner structures of the temporal bone from CT images of 34 healthy adults were reconstructed. Precise measurement of the facial nerve and its adjacent structures were accomplished by using Able Software 3D-DOCTOR.


RESULTS
3D images of temporal bone structures, including facial nerve, tympanic annulus, cochleariform process, cochlea, semicircular canals, jugular fossa, and carotid artery, were reconstructed. Quantitative data of the facial nerve and its adjacent structures were analyzed, especially the detailed spatial relationships between the facial nerve and the surface of the mastoid process or tympanomastoid fissure.


CONCLUSIONS
3D reconstruction of CT images clearly displayed the detailed structures of the temporal bone. Quantitative data of the facial nerve and its adjacent structures are very useful for temporal bone surgery.
Ni
Yusu
Y
Otology and Skull Base Surgery Department, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Sha
Yan
Y
Dai
PeiDong
P
Li
Huawei
H
D000328:Adult; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005830:Geniculate Ganglion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013199:Stapes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging