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  • Visualization of nerve fibe...
    Saito, Shin; Ozawa, Hiroyuki; Fujioka, Masato; Hikishima, Keigo; Hata, Junichi; Kurihara, Sho; Okano, Hirotaka James; Ogawa, Kaoru

    Head & neck, October 2018, Volume: 40, Issue: 10
    Journal Article

    Background Precise imaging of nerves have been challenging in the head and neck region, mainly due to low spatial resolution. Here, we investigated how nerves in the head and neck region could be visualized using an ultra‐high magnetic field MR system. Methods We used formol‐carbol‐fixed human cadaveric necks and obtained MR diffusion tensor images (DTIs) using a 9.4 Tesla (T) ultra‐high magnetic field MR system. Afterward, we prepared tissue sections and checked the anatomic relationships between the neurons and the carotid artery in order to confirm that the visualized fibers are indeed neuron fibers. Results We were able to identify nerves, including the vagus nerve, the hypoglossal nerve, and the spinal‐accessory nerve. Hematoxylin‐eosin stained histological sections confirmed neuron fibers in the same anatomic position. Conclusion This technique has the feasibility to be applied for a more accurate anatomic understanding, maybe even close to a histological level.