Imaging of cranial nerves and brainstem: normal 3D CISS MR of cerebral fossa

Imaging of cranial nerves and brainstem: normal 3D CISS MR of cerebral fossa

Imaging of cranial nerves and brainstem: normal 3D CISS MR of cerebral fossa


Introduction

This anatomical module of e-Anatomy is dedicated to the anatomy of the cranial nerves (CN I to CN XII) and brainstem. High resolution CISS 3D MRI images were obtained from a normal posterior cranial fossa examination.
This neuroanatomy atlas of the posterior cerebral fossa has been designed to help radiologists in their daily practice (MRI of trigeminal neuralgia, cochlear schwannoma, facial palsy…) with annotated MR image reconstructions in the main planes (axial, coronal and sagittal), spatial orientation and color-text labels.
 

Material and methods

An axial T2 3D CISS (Constructive Interference in Steady State) MRI of the posterior cerebral fossa was carried out on a healthy female patient, using a Siemens 1.5T MRI.
Eighty-eight images of the posterior fossa were obtained from 0,6 mm thick slices.
MRI images were post-treated with Horos to obtain MPR reconstructions in sagittal and coronal planes.
The images were then cropped to focus on the emergence of the cranial nerves from the brainstem.
The colored overlays of the nuclei of cranial nerves in the brainstem were approximately drawn and labeled on this exam according to the bibliographic sources available. However, the accuracy is poor, due to the low sensitivity of the T2 3D CISS sequence, making it hard to clearly see the true position of the cranial nerve nuclei.
The 3D images of the brainstem and cranial nerves (cochlea, semicircular canals and vestibule) were created using the MRI native on an Advantage Windows - GE.
The anatomical labeling was done by Antoine Micheau M.D. (Radiologist, Montpellier – France), using the Terminologia Anatomica 2 and the Terminologia Neuroanatomica.
 

  • Muscles
  • Pharynx
  • Respiratory system
  • Telencephalon
  • Diencephalon
  • Cerebellum
  • Brainstem
  • Nuclei of cranial nerves
  • Ventricles of the brain
  • Meninges
  • Cranial subarachnoid cisterns
  • Pituitary gland
  • Cranial nerves
    • Olfactory nerve
    • Optic nerve
    • Oculomotor nerve
    • Trochlear nerve
    • Trigeminal nerve
    • Abducens nerve
    • Cochlear nerve
  • Internal ear
  • Arteries
  • Veins

     

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