[Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging of the normal facial nerve]

We performed a prospective imaging study of the normal facial nerve within the temporal bone before and after injection of Gd-DTPA. The study included 29 patients using a 1.5T superconducting unit and 40 nerves (right: 21; left: 19) were available for analysis. There was no enhancement of the facial nerve within the internal auditory canal in the entire series. However, the enhancement at the labyrinthine segment was observed in one nerve (3%); at the geniculate ganglion in seven (18%); at the tympanic segment in 18 (45%) and at the mastoid segment in 28 nerves (70%). Our results indicate that enhancement of the facial nerve in normal subjects is not a rare condition.