Improvement of visualization of the intermediofacial nerve in the temporal bone using 3T magnetic resonance imaging: part 1: the facial nerve.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the identifiability of the intratemporal motor facial nerve using 3-T and 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Twenty subjects underwent T1- and T2-weighted MRI of the temporal bone. Acquisition was performed using a head coil at 3 and 1.5 T as well as a surface coil at 3 T. Layer thicknesses were 0.6 mm for 3-T and 0.8 mm for 1.5-T MRI. Eight topodiagnostically relevant facial nerve and branch structures were statistically evaluated.


RESULTS
The main trunk could be identified in all examinations. Sequences acquired with a head coil at 3 T yielded statistically significant superiority (P < 0.001) over 3-T surface coil and 1.5-T head coil measurements. The precise identifiability of the smallest structures (eg, stapedial nerve) succeeded best by means of T1-weighted 3-T MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the precise identifiability of the smallest branches, 3-T MRI improves diagnostics particularly with regard to preoperative planning.
Burmeister
Hartmut Peter
HP
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University HospitalYFriedrich Schiller, University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07740 Jena, Germany. hartmut.burmeister@med.uni-jena.de
Hause
Franziska
F
Baltzer
Pascal Andreas Thomas
PA
Schmidt
Peter
P
Volk
Gerd Fabian
GF
Guntinas-Lichius
Orlando
O
Sedlacik
Jan
J
Mentzel
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Kaiser
Werner Alois
WA
D000328:Adult; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult