16h00 New imaging techniques in head and neck region and 3D CRANI imaging of the extracranial cranial nerves.

MR techniques used to image the intracranial cranial nerves are already available for many years. However, imaging of the extracranial course of these nerves only recently became possible with the advent of optimized “neurography” sequences, e.g. 3D-CRANI. These sequences allow visualization of the trigeminal nerve branches and facial nerve branches in the maxillofacial region and also the course of the lower cranial nerves nine to twelve below the skull base and in the neck can now be depicted. Not only the normal anatomy but also pathology on these nerves can be visualized. Oedema, demyelination and Wallerian degeneration in case of neuropathy can be seen as high signal intensity on the 3D-CRANI images. Therefore, post-traumatic changes (e.g. lingual nerve damage or transection), neuromas, schwannomas, neuritis etc. can now be detected. In this presentation the normal anatomy and most frequent pathology of the extracranial cranial nerves will be demonstrated.