Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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The 12 cranial nerves (CNs) all have important functions. All, except the accessory nerve, arise solely within the cranial vault. We will discuss each CN function along with its entire CN course. The modality of choice for evaluation of the CN itself is typically MRI, however, CT is very important to access the bony foramina and CN boundaries..
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Human brainstem internal anatomy is intricate, complex, and essential to normal brain function. The brainstem is affected by stroke, multiple sclerosis, and most neurodegenerative diseases-a 1-mm focus of pathologic condition can have profound clinical consequences. ⋯ Better anatomic localization using these recent innovations improves our ability to diagnose, localize, and treat brainstem diseases. We aim to provide an accessible review of the most clinically relevant brainstem neuroanatomy.
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Conventional MR imaging does not discriminate basal ganglia and thalamic internal anatomy well. Radiology reports describe anatomic locations but not specific functional structures. ⋯ Better visualization also may improve treatments for movement disorders and other emerging functional neurosurgery targets. We aim to provide an accessible review of the most clinically-relevant neuroanatomy within the thalamus and basal ganglia.
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Advances in MR imaging techniques have allowed for detailed in vivo depiction of white matter tracts. The study of white matter structure and connectivity is of paramount importance in leukodystrophies, demyelinating disorders, neoplasms, and various cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and developmental disorders. The advent of advanced "function-preserving" surgical techniques also makes it imperative to understand white matter anatomy and connectivity, to provide accurate road maps for tumor and epilepsy surgery. In this review, we will describe cerebral white matter anatomy with the help of conventional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging.