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Trigeminal nerve and ganglion in the Meckel cave: appearance at CT and MR imaging
D Rubinstein1, R L Stears, J C Stears
1Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
Purpose:
To demonstrate the anatomy of the Meckel cave, which is normally seen by means of dissection, with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty cadaver specimens were scanned with 1-mm contiguous axial and coronal CT sections. Seven specimens were also scanned with 1-mm contiguous parasagittal sections and were dissected for correlation with CT images. Two volunteers also underwent high-resolution, fast spin-echo MR imaging. MR images were compared with the CT images and the results of dissection.
Results:
Dissection and CT and MR imaging demonstrated that the trigeminal nerve within the Meckel cave consists of numerous small fibers and that the trigeminal ganglion consists of a small amount of solid tissue.
Conclusion:
In vivo, high-resolution, fast spin-echo imaging can demonstrate the anatomy of the trigeminal nerve in the Meckel cave because of improved spatial and contrast resolution.