Terumitsu Makoto, Seo Kenji, Matsuzawa Hitoshi, Yamazaki Manabu, Kwee Ingrid L, Nakada Tsutomu
Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Division of Dental Anesthesiology, Department of Tissue Regeneration and Reconstruction, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Niigata, Chuoh-ku, Niigata, Japan.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011 Jan;111(1):95-102. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2010.09.002.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) morphologically in patients with symptomatic posttraumatic sensory disorders using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a high-field system.
Sixteen patients who complained of persistent sensory disturbance attributed to unilateral IAN injury participated in the investigation. High-resolution 3-dimensional volume rendering magnetic resonance neurography was performed on a 3.0-T MRI system.
In 15 (94%) of 16 patients, high-resolution 3-dimensional volume rendering magnetic resonance neurography demonstrated morphologic abnormalities of the IAN as well as connective tissue overgrowth. These findings were confirmed intraoperatively (6 patients) and histopathologically (5 patients). The duration of sensory disturbance correlated significantly with the pattern of morphologic deformity and connective tissue overgrowth.
The current study clearly demonstrated that appropriate application of clinical MRI techniques can significantly improve the diagnosis and potential treatment of patients with orofacial peripheral nerve disorders.
