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[Background]With the technical advance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we have been able to observe not only the small cranial nerves arising from the brain stem but also the branches of vertebrobasilar artery in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern. [Purpose]The purpose was to demonstrate the courses and configurations of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) or posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) branch including the internal auditory artery in the CPA cistern and evaluate the relationship between the facial–vestibulocochlear (VIIth–VIIIth) nerves and AICA/PICA on high-resolution, thin-slice, three-dimensional T2-weighted MRI using driven equilibrium pulse. [Material and methods]Thirty-three men and 27 women aged 8–85 years old with sensory hearing loss or vertigo, and/or tinnitus were evaluated by thin-slice (0.75 mm) T2-weighted MRI. Five subjects (3 men, 2 women) without any auditory symptoms were also examined. [Results]Thin-slice T2WI drive MRI revealed several variations of the AICA/PICA coursing, such as a loop formation (n=30, 48 sides) or the IAC extension (n=19, 30 sides). Contact with the vestibulocochlear nerve was seen in 31.7% subjects (n=19, 27 sides). The AICA/PICA branching and shape patterns relative to the CPA and IAC were classified into four major types: type 1A, nonloop AICA/PICA in the CPA cistern; type 1 B, nonloop AICA/PICA (internal auditory artery) entering the IAC; type 2A, loop-type AICA/PICA in the CPA cistern; and type 2B, loop-type AICA/PICA entering the IAC. [Conclusion]There was statistically significant association between types 1A and 2A (P<.01) regarding the existence of any auditory 3 symptoms. The results of our study suggest that this classification is simple and very useful for the elucidation of the mechanism of auditory symptoms and deciding the therapeutic strategies.

[Objectives]The sensitivity of the current 10 mm cut-off diameter that is used to diagnose lymph node (LN) metastasis is too low. This is the first study to develop a new criterion to diagnose LN metastasis in a region-by-region manner using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). [Methods]1) The short-axis diameter of the LNs in MDCT images from 1-mm slices obtained immediately prior to surgery was compared with the pathological diagnosis in 78 uterine cervical cancer patients undergoing primary surgery. For the region-by-region analysis, we divided para-aortic and pelvic spaces into 13 regions. 2) In 28 cases in which patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery, we compared MDCT images before and after NAC. [Results]1) The optimal cut-off in the region-by-region analysis was 5 mm, yielding 71% sensitivity and 79% specificity. 2) NAC significantly decreased LN size (p < 0.0001). NAC decreased the number of swollen LN regions (> 5 mm) from 51% (81/158) to 26% (41/158). [Conclusions]The new criterion developed using MDCT could be effective for accurately assessing LN status. It also facilitates the assessment of NAC efficacy regarding the eradication of LN metastases.