[Value of magnetic resonance imaging in displaying the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve].

Objective: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in displaying the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve.

Methods: Sixteen volunteers (9 males and 7 females) and 132 surgically confirmed patients with parotid tumors locating in the deep or shallow lobe of the parotid gland (including 89 with benign and 43 with malignant tumors) underwent MRI using T1WI and T2WI. The transverse images were obtained with the plane tilted 35 degrees to the foot, and the coronal images were acquired using conventional scanning.