Ultrasound of cranial nerves is a novel subdomain of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) which may provide additional value in the assessment of cranial nerves in different neuromuscular disorders. Whilst NMUS of peripheral nerves has been studied, NMUS of cranial nerves is considered in its initial stage of research, thus, there is a need to summarize the research results achieved to date. Detailed scanning protocols, which assist in mastery of the techniques, are briefly mentioned in the few reference textbooks available in the field. This review article focuses on ultrasound scanning techniques of the 4 accessible cranial nerves: optic, facial, vagus and spinal accessory nerves. The relevant literatures and potential future applications are discussed.
Accessory Nerve ; Cranial Nerves* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ultrasonography*

Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is an infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is usually associated with facial and vestibulocochlear nerve palsy, but other cranial nerve dysfunction can be accompanied. We present a 68-year-old woman with abducens nerve palsy associated with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. She showed abduction limitation of left eye with peripheral facial palsy and vestibulopathy of the left side. Varicella zoster virus polymerase chain reaction of cerebrospinal fluid was positive and internal auditory canal magnetic resonance imaging was revealed enhancement of labyrinthine segment of left facial nerve. Although abducens nerve palsy is uncommon feature of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, but it can be developed by several different mechanisms.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Abducens Nerve ; Aged ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Communicable Diseases ; Cranial Nerves ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paralysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve

The neck has intricately connected neural structures, including cervical and brachial plexi, the sympathetic system, lower cranial nerves, and their branches. Except for brachial plexus, there has been little research regarding the normal imaging appearance or corresponding pathologies of neural structures in the neck. The development in imaging techniques with better spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio has made it possible to see many tiny nerves to predict complications related to image-guided procedures and to better assess treatment response, especially in the management of oncology patients. The purposes of this review is to present imaging-based anatomy of major nerves in the neck and explain their relevant clinical significance according to representative pathologies of regarded nerves in the neck.
Accessory Nerve ; Brachial Plexus ; Cervical Plexus ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Cranial Nerves ; Female ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck* ; Pathology* ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Vagus Nerve

The classic surgical technique for cochlear implantation was first introduced by House in 1961. This technique includes a mastoidectomy and a posterior tympanotomy, which has been most widely used for cochlear implantation. However, this approach may result in the injury of the chorda tympani nerve or the facial nerve. To avoid the risk of the neural injury, several alternative surgical methods have been developed. The endomeatal approach is one of the several alternative techniques. We present, along with a review of literatures, a case of cochlear implantation using the endomeatal approach performed in a child with an extremely hypoplastic mastoid.
Child* ; Chorda Tympani Nerve ; Cochlear Implantation* ; Cochlear Implants* ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Mastoid*

It is well known that M. leprae involves peripheral nerves, but it is a few known that M. leprae involves craninal nerves. I experienced one case of relapsed leprosy accompanied by multiple cranial nerve palsies. Revealed symptoms are to involve trigeminal nerve (V). facial nerve (VII), vestibular nerve (VIII), glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), vagus nerve (X). It is not effect to treat with corticosteroid, but is good effect to treat with MDT(multiple drug therapy)
Cranial Nerve Diseases* ; Cranial Nerves* ; Dystroglycans ; Facial Nerve ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Leprosy* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Vagus Nerve ; Vestibular Nerve

A neurilemmoma or schwann cell tumor is a rare and distintive nerve sheath tumor. Neurilemmomas usually are solitary and affect woman more frequently than men withaut particular affinity for any age group. They occur commonly on the cranial nerve, with the most acoustic nerve. When peripheral neurilemmomas are found, they are seen to occur on nerves in the scalp, face, neck, extremities and also visceral organs. Clinically, they are rounded or ovoid with uniform texture and consistency varyingfrom soft to moderately firm in gray, pink or yellowish color and are accompanied with intermittent radiating pain along the course of a peripheral nerve. We present a case report in a 28 year old man who developed two coin size ovoid painful masses on the left extremity for 6 months and describe a brief review associated with the analysis of the statistics of 56 cases of neurilemmoma for the past 9 years' duration in our hospital.
Adult ; Cochlear Nerve ; Cranial Nerves ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma* ; Numismatics ; Peripheral Nerves ; Scalp

OBJECTIVE: To study a new surgical approach for cochlear implantation. METHOD: We operated on 8 cadaver heads (16 side) use Suprameatal approach for cochlear implantation, describe related anatomic mark. RESULT: The electrode is passed through the suprameatal tunnel, the EAC groove, the space underneath the chorda tympani between the malleal and the long process of the incus, and the cochleostomy. Angle between tunnel and temporal imaginary line is 28.0 degrees +/- 1.3 degrees in adult, 29.0 degrees +/- 1.7 degrees in children, the location of inserting electrode into cochleostomy is (1.31 +/- 0.13) mm to round window in adult, (1.19 +/- 0.12) mm in child. CONCLUSION The SMA approach is a safe technique, maintaining a safe distance to facial nerve and chorda tympani. So We should make right decision in clinic.
Adult ; Child ; Chorda Tympani Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Cochlear Implantation ; methods ; Ear Canal ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Round Window, Ear ; anatomy & histology

cranial nerve damage such as trigeminal nerve or facial nerve. Inferior alveolar nerve is prone to damage in the third molar extraction, implant installation, orthognathic surgery, open reduction and rigid fixation, and tumor ablation surgery. On the other hands, facial nerve is likely to be damaged or sacrificed with trauma or parotidectomy. In case of inferior alveolar nerve injury, the incidence is reported to be about 1.3%. The nerve function will almost recover in minimal damage, but it won't recover at last in total damage of a part of nerve unit. In latter cases, nerve regeneration is intended by allograft as nerve substitute or various route of nerve conduit. But the recovery with autograft is believed to be most reliable method in the rapair of long-span(longer than 15mm) nerve defect. We have performed autologous sural nerve graft in the repair of nerve defect, which is caused by resection of benign or malignant tumor. Hereby we report the method of nerve harvesting, recovery of defected peripheral nerve and the complications of doner site with the discussion of sural nerve anatomy.]]>
Allografts ; Autografts ; Cranial Nerves ; Facial Nerve ; Hand ; Incidence ; Mandibular Nerve ; Molar, Third ; Nerve Regeneration ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Peripheral Nerves ; Sural Nerve ; Transplants ; Trigeminal Nerve

Herpes Zoster Oticus is an infectious cranial polyneuropathy caused by varicella zoster, the herpetic virus that also causes chicken pox and shingles. Its symptoms include facial paralysis, ear pain, and an auricular vesicle. This syndrome can affect any cranial nerve and usually affects multiple nerves, causing central, cervical, and peripheral effects. Most commonly affected cranial nerves are facial nerve (VII) and vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII). With a review of literature, we report two rare cases. First case involves cranial nerve VII, VIII, IX, X and second case involves cranial nerve VIII, IX, X, which characteristically does not involve facial nerve.
Chickenpox ; Cranial Nerves* ; Ear ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Polyneuropathies ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Neurilemmomas is benign tumor originating from all kinds of cranial nerve except optic nerve and olfactory nerve, spinal nerve root and peripheral nerve. It superficially resembles neoplasm of fibroblastic origin, but has distinctive histological pattern and arise from the neuroectodermal sheath of schwann. Approximately 25% to 40% of all neurilemmomas are found in the neural structure of the head and neck. The tumor mostly develops in the acoustic nerve and there are several reports of neurilemmonas originating form tongue, pharynx, lip, larynx and palate etc. However, reports of Neurilemmoma originating from cervical vagus nerve have been extremely rare. We experienced two cases neurilemmoma of cervical vagus nerve that were treated with different surgical methods. In the first case, the tumor was extirpated by sacrificing the nerve trunk and in second case, it was enucleated by preserving the neural pathway using the microsurgical technique.
Cochlear Nerve ; Cranial Nerves ; Fibroblasts ; Head ; Larynx ; Lip ; Neck ; Neural Pathways ; Neural Plate ; Neurilemmoma* ; Olfactory Nerve ; Optic Nerve ; Palate ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pharynx ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Tongue ; Vagus Nerve*