Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42507206›Full record

ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026

Radiologic detectability and anatomic course of Arnold's nerve on temporal bone HRCT: A cross-sectional study.

Masato Suzuki, Makiko Obara, Iori Kusaka, Daiki Onodera, Aya Katsura, Jun Suzuki, Kiyoto Shiga, Ryoukichi Ikeda

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Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Masato SuzukiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan.
Makiko ObaraDepartment of Radiology, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Iwate, Japan.
Iori KusakaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan.
Daiki OnoderaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan.
Aya KatsuraDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan.
Jun SuzukiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
Kiyoto ShigaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan.
Ryoukichi IkedaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head-Neck Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Idai Dori, Yahaba, Iwate, 028-3695, Japan. ryoukich@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0076-6092

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London 23K08993
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo determine the radiologic detectability of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN, Arnold's nerve) on temporal bone high‑resolution CT (HRCT), classify its course relative to the chorda tympani, and describe age‑ and sex‑related distributions.

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical temporal bone HRCTs obtained at a tertiary center (2019-2023). The cohort comprised 958 patients and 1854 ears after exclusions. ABVN positivity required a continuous osseous canal from the jugular fossa (mastoid canaliculus), crossing the facial canal, toward the tympanomastoid fissure. The crossing height relative to the chorda tympani defined Types A-C. Distances to surgical landmarks were measured.

resultsABVN was identified intraosseously in 255/1854 ears (13.8%). Detection by sex: 132/943 (14.0%) in males; 123/911 (13.5%) in females. By age: 38 ears (< 20 years, 8.7%); 217 ears (≥ 20 years, 15.3%). Course classification: A 101 (40%), B 150 (59%), C 4 (1%). Intraosseous bifurcation occurred in ~ 6% of positive ears. Mean measurements: mastoid canaliculus 6.4 mm; second genu to ABVN-facial crossing 8.6 mm; crossing to stylomastoid foramen 5.6 mm.

conclusionTemporal bone HRCT delineates an intraosseous ABVN in a clinically meaningful minority of ears and demonstrates reproducible relationships to the chorda tympani and facial canal. A simple, chorda‑tympani-referenced classification may assist in preoperative planning and improve interpretation of auricular vagus stimulation outcomes.

Indexed as

Arnold’s nerveAuricular branch of the vagusChorda tympaniHRCTMastoid canaliculusTemporal bone

Identifiers

PMID42507206

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.