Clinical Anatomy and Imaging of the Cranial Nerves and Skull Base

Ruchira M. Jha; Joshua P. Klein

doi:10.1055/s-0032-1331807

Seminars in Neurology, Table of Contents

Semin Neurol 2012; 32(04): 332-346
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331807

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Clinical Anatomy and Imaging of the Cranial Nerves and Skull Base

Ruchira M. Jha

¹Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

²Division of Hospital Neurology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

,

Joshua P. Klein

²Division of Hospital Neurology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Evaluation of patients with cranial neuropathies requires an understanding of brainstem anatomy and nerve pathways. Advances in neuroimaging, particularly high spatial resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have enabled visualization of these tiny structures and their related pathology. This review provides an approach toward using imaging in the evaluation of cranial nerve (CN) and skull base anatomy and pathology. Because brainstem nuclei are inextricably linked to the information contained within CNs, they are briefly mentioned whenever relevant; however, a comprehensive discussion of brainstem syndromes is beyond the scope of this review.

Keywords

cranial nerve - brain stem - skull base - steady-state free precession (SSFP)

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References

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