Abstract
Objective
Since MRI using dedicated imaging sequences has recently shown promising results in direct visualization of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and the lingual nerve (LN) with high spatial resolution, the aim of this study was to generate suitable standard specifications to reliably depict the IAN and LN in MRI and to delineate the anatomy and its variants of these nerves in healthy subjects.
Methods
Thirty healthy volunteers were examined on a 3-T scanner (Elition, Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands). The sequence protocol consisted of 3D STIR, 3D DESS, and 3D T1 FFE “black bone” sequences.
Results
The study reconfirmed a good feasibility of direct visualization of proximal and peripheral portions of the IAN and of the proximal course of the LN. The STIR sequence showed the highest apparent signal to noise ratio (aSNR) and best apparent nerve-muscle contrast to noise ratio (aNMCNR) for IAN and for the LN. The applied MRI sequences allowed to differentiate the tissue composition of the neurovascular bundle inside the mandibular canal.
Conclusion
Dedicated MRI sequence protocols proved effectively to detect the IAN and LN and their course in healthy volunteers. The tissue composition of the mandibular neurovascular bundle was conclusively distinguishable as was the varying topography inside multiple bony channels.
Clinical relevance
The presented data on the precise and valid visualization of the IAN and LN have clinical implications in respect to local anesthesia prior to dental treatments in the mandible but also regarding surgical procedures and implant insertion in the molar region.
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Abbreviations
- aNMCNR:
-
Apparent nerve-muscle contrast to noise ratio
- aSNR:
-
Apparent signal to noise ratio
- CBCT:
-
Cone beam computed tomography
- CI:
-
Confidence interval
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- CNR:
-
Contrast to noise ratio
- DESS:
-
Double-echo steady state
- IAN:
-
Inferior alveolar nerve
- LN:
-
Lingual nerve
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- ROI:
-
Region of interest
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- SI:
-
Signal intensity
- STIR:
-
Short tau inversion recovery
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Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Egon Burian: data segmentation, drafting of manuscript, concept of study design, data acquisition, data post-processing.
Florian A. Probst: critical revision of manuscript.
Dominik Weidlich: critical revision of manuscript.
Carl-Peter Cornelius: critical revision of manuscript.
Lisa Meier: data acquisition, critical revision of manuscript.
Teresa Robl: data acquisition, critical revision of manuscript.
Claus Zimmer: critical revision of manuscript.
Dimitrios C. Karampinos: critical revision of manuscript.
Lucas Ritschl: critical revision of manuscript.
Monika M. Probst: concept of study design, data acquisition, data post-processing, statistical analysis, critical revision of manuscript.
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The institutional ethics committee approved the study design.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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This study was conducted at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Medical School Munich, Germany
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Burian, E., Probst, F.A., Weidlich, D. et al. MRI of the inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve—anatomical variation and morphometric benchmark values of nerve diameters in healthy subjects. Clin Oral Invest 24, 2625–2634 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-03120-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-03120-7