Imaging the trigeminal nerve

Visualization of the Peripheral Branches of the Mandibular Division of the Trigeminal Nerve on 3D Double-Echo Steady-State with Water Excitation Sequence

“…14,15 Without the high-signal background from the CSF, however, heavily T2-weighted imaging has not proved to be very useful in visualizing the extracranial segments of the cranial nerves. Detecting the remaining peripheral segments can be achieved with pre-and postcontrast high-resolution 3D T1-weighted images (gradient-recalled acquisition in steady state, fast-spoiled gradient recalled-echo, or MPRAGE) with and without fat suppression, [9][10][11][12][13]16,18,23 but detecting the entire course of the extracranial branches of the cranial nerves is still very challenging. The 3D-DESS-WE sequence, commonly used in musculoskeletal imaging, was recently applied for visualization of the intraparotid facial nerve and is quite successful.…”

“…Following the entire course of the cranial nerves, including the extracranial segments, however, is still a diagnostic challenge in routine clinical practice. 1,2,[11][12][13][14][15][16] Intracranial segments of the cranial nerves, particularly the cisternal segments, are readily detected by using high-resolution heavily T2-weighted imaging. 14,15 Without the high-signal background from the CSF, however, heavily T2-weighted imaging has not proved to be very useful in visualizing the extracranial segments of the cranial nerves.…”

“…With increasing spatial and contrast resolution of cross-sectional imaging, better visualization of the cranial nerves and their major branches has become possible, but the delineation of the entire course of the extracranial segments of the cranial nerves still remains a diagnostic challenge. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The trigeminal nerve has the largest distribution of innervation among all the cranial nerves in the suprahyoid neck. Even though the mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest division of the trigeminal nerve, there have been only limited studies investigating the visualization of the extracranial segments of V3 with MR imaging.…”

Imaging of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Hemifacial Spasm, Vestibular Paroxysmia, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

“…[12][13][14][15][16] This combination can successfully guide neurosurgical treatment and may predict treatment response. [17][18][19] A variety of high-resolution 3D heavily T2-weighted sequences is currently available, including CISS; FIESTA; balanced steady-state free precession; driven equilibrium and radiofrequency reset pulse; and sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE sequence; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), providing accurate visualization of the cisternal portion of the involved CN.…”

“…5 Both the superior cerebellar artery and AICA usually compress the nerve in its superomedial portion (60%) (Fig 3). 5 Less often, CN V is compressed by the basilar and vertebral arteries, 15,16 by a saccular aneurysm, a persistent trigeminal artery, an arteriovenous malformation, 27,28 or a petrous vein (Figs 4 and 5). A small cerebellopontine angle cistern appears to predispose to NVCS.…”