Abstract： Objective: To asses the value of 3D-FIESTA sequence in displaying the cavernous sinus segment of oculomotor nerve in order to obtain more detailed MR anatomical data of this nerve for clinical application. Methods: Thirty-eight normal volunteers and 8 patients with oculomotor nerve palsy underwent conventional sequence and 3D-FIESTA sequence associated with multi-planar reformation(MPR) and curved planar reconstruction(CR) from different angle to show the pathway of the cavernous sinus segment of oculomotor nerve. Results: In the 38 normal volunteers, the cavernous segment of oculomotor nerve can be showed clearly in 40.8%(15 cases), can not be showed clearly in 57.8%(22 cases), only a part of the segment was showed, and the nerve can not be showed in 1.3%(1 case). In the 8 patients with oculomotor nerve palsy, the cavernous segment of the nerve can be showed clearly in 12.5%, only a part of the nerve can be showed in 62.5%, in 25% of cases the nerve was not showed. Conclusion: To some extent, MR 3D-FIESTA sequence with post-processing techniques can be used to show the anatomical detail of the canvernous sinus segment of the oculomotor nerve, but involvement of the cavernous sinus can not be showed clearly only provide indirect information for diagnosis and further surgery planning.
2011, Vol. 22 
