title: Morphologic evaluation of the inferior alveolar nerve in patients with sensory disorders by high-resolution 3D volume rendering magnetic resonance neurography on a 3.0-T system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) morphologically in patients with symptomatic posttraumatic sensory disorders using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a high-field system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients who complained of persistent sensory disturbance attributed to unilateral IAN injury participated in the investigation. High-resolution 3-dimensional volume rendering magnetic resonance neurography was performed on a 3.0-T MRI system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 15 (94%) of 16 patients, high-resolution 3-dimensional volume rendering magnetic resonance neurography demonstrated morphologic abnormalities of the IAN as well as connective tissue overgrowth. These findings were confirmed intraoperatively (6 patients) and histopathologically (5 patients). The duration of sensory disturbance correlated significantly with the pattern of morphologic deformity and connective tissue overgrowth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study clearly demonstrated that appropriate application of clinical MRI techniques can significantly improve the diagnosis and potential treatment of patients with orofacial peripheral nerve disorders.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Division of Dental Anesthesiology, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Niigata, Chuoh-ku, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terumitsu
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Ingrid L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D054159:Torsion, Mechanical; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; D055815:Young Adult