Why the study?
Stellate ganglion MRI has been underutilized due to topographic vagueness, small size, suboptimal quality, and limited reproducibility, warranting a revisit given advances in neuroimaging and emerging interest in cardiac neuromodulation.
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Advances stellate ganglion imaging for neuromodulation; leaves open clinical utility pending prospective validation.
Reports of visualization of the stellate ganglion via magnetic resonance imaging date back to the early 1990s. However, such imaging has not been fully utilized, presumably due to vagueness of its topographic anatomy, small size, suboptimal image quality, and limited reproducibility. Considering the recent advancements in the field of neuroradiological imaging, including magnetic resonance neurography, and emerging interests regarding cardiac neuroanatomy and neuromodulation, such as stellate ganglion phototherapy, it is time to revisit the anatomy and imaging of the stellate ganglion, as it largely controls the sympathetic tone of the heart. Quantification and qualification of the stellate ganglion can drive innovation in the management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Nakajo et al. (2025) studied this question.
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