MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF CRANIAL NERVE-VII

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well suited for the evaluation of lesions of the seventh cranial (facial) nerve. The preferred MRI appro ach requires use of multiplanar thin sections of the full course of th e nerve from the pens through to its terminal branches on the face. Th e use of paramagnetic contrast greatly increases the sensitivity of MR I and for the most part precludes the need to use computed tomography scans in conjunction with the MRI scans.