Cranial nerve assessment in cavernous sinus tumors with contrast-enhanced 3D fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition MR imaging.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study is to apply contrast-enhanced 3D fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) imaging to the evaluation of cranial nerves (CN) in patients with cavernous sinus tumors.


METHODS
Contrast-enhanced 3D-FIESTA images were acquired from ten patients with cavernous sinus tumors with a 3-T unit.


RESULTS
In all cases, the trigeminal nerve with tumor involvement was easily identified in the cavernous portions. Although oculomotor and abducens nerves were clearly visualized against the tumor area with intense contrast enhancement, they were hardly identifiable within the area lacking contrast enhancement. The trochlear nerve was visualized in part, but not delineated as a linear structure outside of the lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced 3D-FIESTA can be useful in the assessment of cranial nerves in and around the cavernous sinus with tumor involvement.
Amemiya
Shiori
S
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. amemiya-tky@umin.ac.jp
Aoki
Shigeki
S
Ohtomo
Kuni
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium