Bilateral duplication of the abducens nerves: an incidental finding on magnetic resonance imaging.
Although anomaly of the abducens nerve, including duplication, has been reported in anatomical papers, no radiological report exists regarding a duplicated abducens nerve observed on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We encountered a case of bilateral duplication of the abducens nerves, which was found incidentally on MR scans from an 11-year-old boy. He did not have any symptoms of eye movement related to abducens nerve abnormality; thus, the duplication was considered to be a normal variant in this patient. Radiologists should be aware that duplication of the abducens nerve may occur and can be diagnosed on MR, particularly when diagnosing symptomatic patients or as a preoperative assessment for microsurgery of the nerve.
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan. clatsune@yahoo.co.jp.
Tsuneo
T
Yamashiro
Department of Ophthalmology, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Michiko
M
Yonahara
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Ayano
A
Yonaha
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Ryo
R
Kinoshita
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Maho
M
Tsubakimoto
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Rin
R
Iraha
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan.
Sadayuki
S
Murayama
D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
Abducens nerve; Duplication; Magnetic resonance; Normal variant