title: Identification of cranial nerves around trigeminal schwannomas using diffusion tensor tractography: a technical note and report of 3 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are no large series studies identifying the locations of cranial nerves (CNs) around trigeminal schwannomas (TSs); however, surgically induced cranial neuropathies are commonly observed after surgeries to remove TSs. In this study, we preoperatively identified the location of CNs near TSs using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study of the DTT results and intraoperative findings was performed. We preoperatively completed tractography from images of patients with TSs who received surgical therapy. The result was later validated during tumorectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of three consecutive patients were involved in this study. The locations of CNs V-VIII in relation to the tumor was clearly revealed in all cases, except for CN VI in case 3.The predicted fiber tracts were in agreement with intraoperative observations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, preoperative DTT accurately predicted the location of the majority of the nerves of interest. This technique can be applied by surgeons to preoperatively visualize nerve arrangements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Peng-Hu
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China. Pro_baoyuhai@126.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Hai
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9024-3249
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Abducens nerve; Diffusion tensor tractography; Facial-cochlear complex; Trigeminal nerve; Trigeminal schwannoma