Meckel Cave: An Anatomical Study Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: To our knowledge, few studies have investigated anatomy of the Meckel cave with neuroimaging modalities. The present study aimed to characterize it using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Patients And Methods: Following conventional MRI examination, a total of 101 patients underwent T2-weighted imaging in thin-sliced coronal and sagittal sections, and 11 patients underwent constructive interference steady-state sequences in thin-sliced sagittal sections. Moreover, 3 injected cadaver heads were dissected.

Results: In the cadaver specimens, the size and extent of the cerebrospinal fluid-filled space between the Gasserian ganglion and surrounding arachnoids were difficult to define. On the T2-weighted imaging, the Meckel cave was delineated with variable morphologies and left-right asymmetry. On the sagittal images, the shape of the Meckel cave could be classified into 3 different types, bulbous, oval, and flat, with the oval being the most frequent that comprised 60%. Furthermore, on the sagittal constructive interference steady-state images, parts of the trigeminal nerve distributed in the Meckel cave were delineated in all patients. The ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular divisions were clearly distinguished on both sides.

Conclusions: The Meckel cave is a structure characterized by diverse morphologies and left-right asymmetry. Thin-sliced T2-weighted imaging is useful for exploring the anatomy of the Meckel cave.