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Kontzialis M, Ahmed AK, Gallia GL, Texalidis P, Aygun N, Blitz AM. High resolution 3D magnetic resonance imaging of Gruber's ligament: a pilot study. SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY : SRA 2022; 44:1157-1163. [PMID: 35909192 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-022-02996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gruber's ligament (GL), a surgical landmark, extends from the lateral upper clivus to the petrous apex (PA), forming the superior boundary of Dorello's canal (DC). It overlies the interdural segment of the abducens nerve (CN VI). High-resolution 3D skull base MRI (SB-MRI) demonstrates anatomic details visible to the surgeon, but not well seen on traditional cross-sectional imaging. The aim of this study was to demonstrate visualization of the GL and its relationship to CN VI utilizing contrast enhanced high-resolution SB-MRI. METHODS Two neuroradiologists retrospectively reviewed in consensus the SB-MRIs of 27 skull base sides, among 14 patients. GL detection rate, confidence of detection, and GL length were recorded. When GL was successfully identified, the position of the interdural segment of CN VI within DC was recorded. RESULTS GL was readily identified in 16 skull base sides (59%), identified with some difficulty in 2 skull base sides (7%), and failed to be identified in 9 skull base sides (33%). The mean GL length was 7.1 mm (4.5-9.3 mm). Among the 18 cases where GL was successfully identified, CN VI was readily identified in all cases (100%), coursing the lateral third of DC in 72% of sides, and middle third in the remaining 28% of sides. CONCLUSION GL can be identified in approximately two-thirds of cases utilizing 3D high resolution SB-MRI. CN VI passes most commonly along the lateral third of DC. This is the first report demonstrating visualization of GL and its relation to CN VI, on imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinos Kontzialis
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N St Clair Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - A Karim Ahmed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gary L Gallia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pavlos Texalidis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nafi Aygun
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ari M Blitz
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Wysiadecki G, Radek M, Tubbs RS, Iwanaga J, Walocha J, Brzeziński P, Polguj M. Gross and Micro-Anatomical Study of the Cavernous Segment of the Abducens Nerve and Its Relationships to Internal Carotid Plexus: Application to Skull Base Surgery. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050649. [PMID: 34065668 PMCID: PMC8156379 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aims to provide detailed observations on the cavernous segment of the abducens nerve (AN), emphasizing anatomical variations and the relationships between the nerve and the internal carotid plexus. A total of 60 sides underwent gross-anatomical study. Five specimens of the AN were stained using Sihler’s method. An additional five specimens were subjected to histological examination. Four types of AN course were observed: a single nerve along its entire course, duplication of the nerve, division into separate rootlets at the point of contact with the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery (ICA), and early-branching before entering the orbit. Due to the relationships between the ICA and internal carotid plexus, the cavernous segment of the AN can be subdivided into a carotid portion located at the point of contact with the posterior vertical segment of the cavernous ICA and a prefissural portion. The carotid portion of the cavernous AN segment is a place of angulation, where the nerve always directly adheres to the ICA. The prefissural portion of the AN, in turn, is the primary site of fiber exchange between the internal carotid plexus and either the AN or the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Wysiadecki
- Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Łódź, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Maciej Radek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, University Hospital WAM-CSW, 90-549 Łódź, Poland;
| | - R. Shane Tubbs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (R.S.T.); (J.I.)
- Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA 70433, USA
- Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, Grenada FZ 818, West Indies
- Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Joe Iwanaga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (R.S.T.); (J.I.)
- Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
| | - Jerzy Walocha
- Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 33-332 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Piotr Brzeziński
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Michał Polguj
- Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Łódź, Poland;
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Wang JMH, Edwards BA, Loukas M, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS. Supernumerary Abducens Nerves: A Comprehensive Review. World Neurosurg 2017; 112:39-45. [PMID: 29158094 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Branching and/or replication of the abducens nerve is not an uncommon occurrence. Although numerous variations have been documented, the rarest forms are duplicated or triplicated nerves, where multiple nerve roots originate from the brainstem, travel intracranially, and attach to the lateral rectus as separate entities. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search on the topic of supernumerary abducens nerve, using PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS After screening, 16 studies were included: 11 cadaveric studies and 6 case reports. CONCLUSIONS In this paper, we review the literature on variations found, discuss current hypotheses and clinical relevance, and propose future studies. Neurosurgeons should be aware of such nerve variants when viewing imaging or operating in the regions traversed by the abducens nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy M H Wang
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies.
| | - Bryan Adam Edwards
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Marios Loukas
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies
| | | | - R Shane Tubbs
- Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA
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