» Articles » PMID: 35324630

Visualization of Inferior Alveolar and Lingual Nerve Pathology by 3D Double-Echo Steady-State MRI: Two Case Reports with Literature Review

Overview
Journal J Imaging
Publisher MDPI
Specialty Radiology
Date 2022 Mar 24
PMID 35324630
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Injury to the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve, particularly the lingual nerve (LN) and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), is a rare but serious complication that can occur during oral and maxillofacial surgery. Mandibular third molar surgery, one of the most common surgical procedures in dentistry, is most often associated with such a nerve injury. Proper preoperative radiologic assessment is hence key to avoiding neurosensory dysfunction. In addition to the well-established conventional X-ray-based imaging modalities, such as panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography, radiation-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the recently introduced black-bone MRI sequences offers the possibility to simultaneously visualize osseous structures and neural tissue in the oral cavity with high spatial resolution and excellent soft-tissue contrast. Fortunately, most LN and IAN injuries recover spontaneously within six months. However, permanent damage may cause significant loss of quality of life for affected patients. Therefore, therapy should be initiated early in indicated cases, despite the inconsistency in the literature regarding the therapeutic time window. In this report, we present the visualization of two cases of nerve pathology using 3D double-echo steady-state MRI and evaluate evidence-based decision-making for iatrogenic nerve injury regarding a wait-and-see strategy, conservative drug treatment, or surgical re-intervention.

Citing Articles

Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain: A Narrative Review of Understanding, Management, and Prognosis.

Park H, Ahn J, Ryu J Biomedicines. 2024; 12(9).

PMID: 39335571 PMC: 11428572. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12092058.


The state of the art and future trends of root canal files from the perspective of patent analysis: a study design.

Jiang J, Sun J, Huang Z, Bi Z, Yu G, Yang J Biomed Eng Online. 2022; 21(1):90.

PMID: 36566212 PMC: 9789667. DOI: 10.1186/s12938-022-01060-0.


Dental MRI of Oral Soft-Tissue Tumors-Optimized Use of Black Bone MRI Sequences and a 15-Channel Mandibular Coil.

Al-Haj Husain A, Sekerci E, Schonegg D, Bosshard F, Stadlinger B, Winklhofer S J Imaging. 2022; 8(5).

PMID: 35621910 PMC: 9146760. DOI: 10.3390/jimaging8050146.

References
1.
Miloro M, Kolokythas A . Inferior alveolar and lingual nerve imaging. Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2011; 19(1):35-46. DOI: 10.1016/j.cxom.2010.11.003. View

2.
Carvalho R, Vasconcelos B . Assessment of factors associated with surgical difficulty during removal of impacted lower third molars. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2011; 69(11):2714-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2011.02.097. View

3.
Weyh A, Pucci R, Valentini V, Fernandes R, Salman S . Injuries of the Peripheral Mandibular Nerve, Evaluation of Interventions and Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2021; 14(4):337-348. PMC: 8543599. DOI: 10.1177/19433875211002049. View

4.
Moon S, Lee S, Kim E, Lee C . Hypoesthesia after IAN block anesthesia with lidocaine: management of mild to moderate nerve injury. Restor Dent Endod. 2013; 37(4):232-5. PMC: 3568644. DOI: 10.5395/rde.2012.37.4.232. View

5.
Fagin A, Susarla S, Donoff R, Kaban L, Dodson T . What factors are associated with functional sensory recovery following lingual nerve repair?. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2012; 70(12):2907-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2012.03.019. View