Kemin Chen, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Weimin Chai, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jialin Shen, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Xiaolong Ding, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lei Li, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yong Jing Guan MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the role of MR imaging in demonstrating the relationship between essential hemifacial spasm(HFS)and neurovascular contact/compression(NVC)at the root entry zone(REZ)of facial nerve.

MR imaging was performed on 102 patients who suffered from unilateral essential HFS and 70 asymptomatic volunteers as control cases who were divided into 7 groups according to their age(symptomatic sides:n=102; asymptomatic sides:n=242).All subjects were imaged on a 1.0 Tesla MR scanner(Gyroscan 10T-NT,Philips)using 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance tomographic angiography(3D-TOF-MRTA).Images of transverse,oblique coronal and coronal sections were obtained in each case.The relationship between the REZ of facial nerve and adjacent vessels was graded into three types:no touch,contact and compression(vascular indentation,deformation or shift of the nerve were detected).

NVC was detected by MRTA in 32 asymptomatic sides(13.22%) and 85 symptomatic sides(83.33%),respectively;the difference was statistically significant(p0.05).

Multiplanar MRTA may improve the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy in detecting NVC.It would be easier for bigger vessels to cause symptom which contact/compress the nerve at the nearer point to brainstem.Although neurovascular contact could be presented in a small portion of asymptomatic population,compression only could be found in symptomatic population.

Chen, K, Chai, W, Shen, J, Ding, X, Li, L, Guan, Y, The Relationship between Essential Hemifacial Spasm and Neurovascular Contact/Compression: The Role of MR Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4412982.html