Imaging of Cranial Nerves III, IV, VI in Congenital Cranial Dysinnervation Disorders

Abstract

Congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders are a group of diseases caused by abnormal development of cranial nerve nuclei or their axonal connections, resulting in aberrant innervation of the ocular and facial musculature. Its diagnosis could be facilitated by the development of high resolution thin-section magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of this review is to describe the method to visualize cranial nerves III, IV, and VI and to present the imaging findings of congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders including congenital oculomotor nerve palsy, congenital trochlear nerve palsy, Duane retraction syndrome, Möbius syndrome, congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, synergistic divergence, and synergistic convergence.

Keywords: Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles; Congenital trochlear nerve palsy; Duane retraction syndrome; Möbius syndrome; Oculomotor nerve palsy.