FDG- PET/CT may be useful after initial cross-sectional imaging in patients with a known primary malignancy for both staging and therapy assessment [164]. It may yield false-positive findings if not interpreted carefully in the clinical context in patients with vocal cord palsy or following vocal fold augmentation [152,165-167]. MRA Head and Neck There is no relevant literature to support the use of MRA in the evaluation of vasculature in unilateral isolated vagal nerve palsy. Thin-cut heavily T2-weighted contrast-enhanced modified balanced SSFP sequences and contrast-enhanced MRA focused on the posterior skull provide detailed imaging of the lower nerves within the jugular foramen, including CN X, which is well visualized in 94% to 100% of imaged patients [24]. Below the skull base, the vagus nerve is not directly imaged by CT and MRI, though its course from the skull base to the carina can be imaged by either modality. Contrast-enhanced CT is typically accessible and conveniently allows complete and rapid imaging of the full extracranial course of the vagus nerve and direct imaging of the larynx and can be extended into the upper thorax to cover the entire course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Thin-cut heavily T2-weighted contrast-enhanced modified balanced SSFP sequences and contrast-enhanced MRA focused on the posterior skull provide detailed imaging of the lower nerves within the jugular foramen, including CN X, which is well visualized in 94% to 100% of imaged patients [24]. Below the skull base, the vagus nerve is not directly visible by CT and MRI, although its course from the skull base to the carina can be imaged by either modality. Contrast-enhanced CT is typically accessible and conveniently allows complete and rapid imaging of the full extracranial course of the vagus nerve and direct imaging of the larynx and can be extended into the upper thorax to cover the entire course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Cranial Neuropathy
Cranial Neuropathy. FDG- PET/CT may be useful after initial cross-sectional imaging in patients with a known primary malignancy for both staging and therapy assessment [164]. It may yield false-positive findings if not interpreted carefully in the clinical context in patients with vocal cord palsy or following vocal fold augmentation [152,165-167]. MRA Head and Neck There is no relevant literature to support the use of MRA in the evaluation of vasculature in unilateral isolated vagal nerve palsy. Thin-cut heavily T2-weighted contrast-enhanced modified balanced SSFP sequences and contrast-enhanced MRA focused on the posterior skull provide detailed imaging of the lower nerves within the jugular foramen, including CN X, which is well visualized in 94% to 100% of imaged patients [24]. Below the skull base, the vagus nerve is not directly imaged by CT and MRI, though its course from the skull base to the carina can be imaged by either modality. Contrast-enhanced CT is typically accessible and conveniently allows complete and rapid imaging of the full extracranial course of the vagus nerve and direct imaging of the larynx and can be extended into the upper thorax to cover the entire course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Thin-cut heavily T2-weighted contrast-enhanced modified balanced SSFP sequences and contrast-enhanced MRA focused on the posterior skull provide detailed imaging of the lower nerves within the jugular foramen, including CN X, which is well visualized in 94% to 100% of imaged patients [24]. Below the skull base, the vagus nerve is not directly visible by CT and MRI, although its course from the skull base to the carina can be imaged by either modality. Contrast-enhanced CT is typically accessible and conveniently allows complete and rapid imaging of the full extracranial course of the vagus nerve and direct imaging of the larynx and can be extended into the upper thorax to cover the entire course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Cranial Neuropathy