• W-J Moon, H G Roh, and E C Chung.
• Department of Radiology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Korea. mdmoonwj@naver.com
• AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2009 Jun 1; 30 (6): 1116-20.

Background And PurposeThe cisternal segments of the lower cranial nerves (CNs) adjacent to the jugular foramen (JF) are difficult to identify reliably by routine MR imaging. We performed a 3D balanced fast-field echo imaging technique (3D-bFFE) to obtain detailed anatomy of the cisternal segments of CNs IX, X, and XI.Materials And Methods3D-bFFE was used to image the cisternal segments of the lower CNs in 20 healthy volunteers. As an anatomic landmark, CSF recesses adjacent to the JF were divided into 3 parts: the recess for the cochlear aqueduct, the recess for CN IX, and the recess for the CN X/XI complex. MR images were evaluated to identify the cisternal segment of each cranial nerve in relation to these anatomic landmarks.ResultsThe mean angles of the recess for the cochlear aqueduct for CN IX and CN X/XI to the posterior petrous bone were 41.6 +/- 2.5 degrees , 69.7 +/- 3.1 degrees , and 76.0 +/- 3.4 degrees , respectively (P < .01). The mean length of the recess for the cochlear aqueduct for CN IX and the CN X/XI complex was 5.91 +/- 0.19, 5.08 +/- 0.11, and 4.76 +/- 0.13 cm, respectively (P < .01). 3D-bFFE adequately depicted the cisternal segments of CN IX on 38 sides (95%) and the CN X/XI complex on 39 sides (97.5%).ConclusionsThe cisternal segments of CN IX, CN X, and CN XI are well identified by using 3D-bFFE, especially by determining the angles of the CSF recesses adjacent to the JF.

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