MR IMAGING OF THE CAVERNOUS SINUS Benjamin

LINTRODUCTJON Due to hs unique location lateral to the phuhary fossa, inferior to the optic chiasm, and encasing cranial nerves Ill, IV, V1, V2, and VI, the cavernous sinus region has held great interest to the neuro-ophthalmologist. Recent ad· vances in neurosurgical technique allowing microsurgical dissection within the sinus itse~ make Identification and exact location of lesions increasingly important. While dynamic CT scanning has added signHicantly to the non· Invasive evaluation of the cavernous sinus, MR Imaging promises to further enhance our ability to accurately im· age the cavernous sinus and its contents. MRI has several obvious advantages, including the absence of radiation, direct multiplanar images, the absence of bone and dental artifact, and the avoidance of iodinated contrast.