More articles from Head & Neck
- Contrast-Enhanced CISS Imaging for Evaluation of Neurovascular Compression in Trigeminal Neuralgia: Improved Correlation with Symptoms and Prediction of Surgical Outcomes
Retrospective review of high-resolution MRIs was performed in patients without prior microvascular decompression. 3D-CISS imaging without and with contrast for 81 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 15 controls was intermixed and independently reviewed in a blinded fashion. Cisternal segments of both trigeminal nerves were assessed for the grade of neurovascular conflict, cross-sectional area, and degree of flattening. Contrast-enhanced CISS more than doubled the prevalence of the highest grade of neurovascular conflict (14.8% versus 33.3%) and yielded significantly lower cross-sectional area and greater degree of flattening for advanced-grade neurovascular conflict on the symptomatic side compared with non-contrast-enhanced CISS.
- Cavitary Plaques in Otospongiosis: CT Findings and Clinical Implications
Cross-sectional CT images and clinical records of 47 patients (89 temporal bones) were evaluated for the presence, location, and imaging features of cavitary and noncavitaryotospongiotic plaques, as well as clinical symptoms and complications in those who underwent cochlear implantation. Noncavitaryotospongiotic plaques were present in 86 (97%) temporal bones and cavitary plaques in 30 (35%). Cavitary plaques predominated with increasing age, mostly involving the anteroinferior wall of the internal auditory canal, and their presence was not associated with a higher grade of otospongiosis by imaging or with a specific type of hearing loss. The authors conclude that cavitary plaques occurred in one-third of patients with otospongiosis.