Magnetic Resonance Neurography for Trigeminal Nerve Injuries: Clinical correlation with nerve injuries

Speaker(s)

• 

  John Zuniga, DMD, PhD

  Professor, Department of Surgery; Chief, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  UT Southwestern Medical Center

  AxoGen Inc: Consultant/Advisory Board; metz North America: Consultant/Advisory Board

Improvements in imaging technology and techniques now allow imaging of structures previously not identifiable on imaging studies. Magnetic resonance (MR) neurography now allows identification of pathology involving branches of the trigeminal nerve. The ability to recognize and localize pathology involving the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves can assist the surgeon in determining the most appropriate surgical treatment. Surgical repair of the lingual and inferior alveolar will be presented and correlated with the imaging findings identified of MR neurography. In addition, advances in imaging techniques that allow for more specific evaluation of inflammatory conditions of the maxillofacial region (osteomyelitis, TMJ synovitis) will be explored.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basics of MR neurography and differences with respect to routine MRI.
• Recognize normal anatomy and pathology of the trigeminal nerve and correlate injuries identified on MR neurography.
• Understand how MRN can be used to select candidates for microsurgical nerve repair.
• Describe the role of nuclear medicine imaging technique in the assessment of inflammatory disease of the maxillofacial region, such as osteomyelitis and TMJ synovitis/arthritis.