3D Modeling of the Cervico-facial Region and Cranial Nerve Tractography: IMAG 2 ORL Project

Children aged 1 to 5 benefiting from a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Necker Enfants-Malades hospital for their care, meeting the inclusion criteria and participating in the study, will benefit during their MRI from the care, a sequence "Research" tractography MRI lasting 10 minutes. This sequence is already validated and proposed for tractography but in specialties other than pediatric ENT.

Tractography techniques are mathematical algorithms based on the diffusion tensor (micro-movements of water molecules in tissues) to reconstruct the path of nerve fibers in each volume unit of the MRI image (voxel).

3D modeling associated with the tracking of nerve fibers meets the needs of preoperative planning for tumors and cervico-facial congenital malformations. Indeed, these lesions are closely related to the cranial nerves.

Inclusion criteria

• Benefiting from social security scheme.
• Informed consent signed by holders of parental authority and the investigator.
• Patient group: children aged 1 to 5 benefiting from a 3T MRI at the Necker Enfants-Malades hospital as part of the initial assessment of a tumor or a cervico-facial malformation.
• Control group: children aged 1 to 5 benefiting from a 3T MRI at the Necker Enfants-Malades hospital as part of the initial assessment of an ENT pathology other than that of the patient group (examples: velar insufficiency, congenital deafness).

Exclusion criteria

Child with a contraindication to MRI: allergy to contrast product, pacemaker, Starr Edwards valves, stent placed for less than 6 weeks, vascular clips, contraindication to sedation.