Yoshika N, Rhoton Jr AL, eds. Atlas of the Facial Nerve and Related Structures. Thieme; 2015; 128 pp; 108 ill; $89.99
As a neuroradiologist with special interest in cranial nerve anatomy I am pleased to write this review about Atlas of the Facial nerve and Related Structures. This atlas is the collaborative work of Dr. Nobutaka Yoshioka, a well-known plastic surgeon and neurosurgeon, and Dr. Albert Rhonton, one of the most famous names in microsurgical neuroanatomy.
The atlas is divided into 3 sections:
- Intracranial Region and Skull
- Upper Facial and Midfacial Region
- Lower Facial and Posterolateral Neck region
Overall, there are 100 high-quality, high-resolution images that are clearly labeled and annotated. For the neuroradiologist the first section is by far the most interesting, as the nerves are clearly visible on MRI. However, the other 2 sections are invaluable as well, providing us with a vibrant understanding of the intricate anatomic relationship of vital structures that are beyond the resolution of our daily imaging techniques.
The transition from section-to-section, and even from image-to-image within a section, is very methodical. The information provided in the labels/captions is very comprehensive, and vital structures are shown from different angles with emphasis on the close anatomic relationship of the facial and trigenimal nerve to foramina, vessels, glands, and muscles. The anastomoses between CN 7 and CN 5 are beatifically depicted on multiple images. The Atlas comes with 3D glasses, and all images are available in 3D format on Thieme’s website. I was very enthusiastic about this feature, yet I didn’t find it very helpful, maybe because the images in the atlas were so great to begin with.
This atlas is meant to be a reference for the neurosurgeon, head and neck surgeon, and craniofacial/plastic surgery specialist. The hard work, the meticulous dissection, and the excellent image quality live up to the authors’ reputation. The neuroradiologist will get a different perspective of the “intracranial” nerve anatomy they are used to seeing on a day-to-day basis and will find great interest in visualizing the complex “extracranial” nerve anatomy, most of which is still beyond the resolution of our daily imaging techniques.
