Open AccessDiffusion Tensor Tractography of the Facial Nerve
Author(s) -
Escada Pedro A.,
Pereira Pedro M.,
De Almeida Gonçalo Neto,
Taoka Rui Manaças; Toshiaki
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451426a253
Subject(s) - tractography , facial nerve , diffusion mri , medicine , neuroma , anatomy , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , surgery
Objective 1) Demonstrate that preoperative diffusion tensor (DT) tractography can predict the displacement of the facial nerve in the vicinity of vestibular schwannomas. 2) Demonstrate that the course of the constructed tract consistently agreed with the surgical findings in most of the cases. Method Prospective study of 15 patients undergoing surgical removal of vestibular schwannomas. The course of the facial nerve, determined preoperatively by diffusion tensor tractography using the method of Taoka et al was compared with the course of the nerve determined intraoperatively by microscopic inspection and using facial nerve monitoring equipment. Results The displaced facial nerve was identified in 14 patients by diffusion tensor tractography in axial and coronal T1 post‐gadolinium and equivalent tractography images. In 13 patients there was a precise correspondence between the course of the nerve determined preoperatively by diffusion tensor tractography and the course of the nerve found at surgery. In 1 patient the facial nerve was found anterior/cranial to the tumor while tractography seemed to depict an anterior/caudal course. Conclusion Diffusion tension tractography of the facial nerve is a feasible technique that can consistently predict the displacement of the facial nerve in the vicinity of vestibular schwannomas. The technique can be used preoperatively to lower the risk of facial nerve injury during acoustic neuroma surgery.