The purpose of this study was to determine whether the intratemporal facial nerve could be delineated on 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using T2-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI using a b value of 3000 and an isotropic resolution of 0.4 mm3 on a 9.4 T MRI scanner was performed on a whole-block celloidin-embedded cadaveric temporal bone specimen of a 1-year-old infant with normal temporal bones. The labyrinthine, tympanic, and mastoid segments of the facial nerve and the chorda tympani nerve were readily depicted on DTI. Therefore, DTI performed using a high b value on a high-field strength MRI scanner could help evaluate the intratemporal facial nerve in whole temporal bone ex vivo specimens.
Keywords: 9.4 T MRI; DTI; Facial nerve; In vitro; Temporal bone.