Dentate nucleus

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 3 Sep 2020

The dentate nucleus is the largest and most lateral of the cerebellar nuclei, located medially within each cerebellar hemisphere, just posterolateral to the fourth ventricle 1

It is part of the triangle of Guillain and Mollaret, connected to the contralateral red nucleus via the superior cerebellar peduncle (rubrodentate fibers) 2.

Radiographic features

MRI

The dentate nucleus is most easily identified on T2 and particularly T2* weighted sequences (e.g. SWI) as an undulating semicircular structure, the opening facing the midline. It is usually difficult to identify on T1 weighted images. 

Recently, there has been significant interest in gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus, which becomes readily visible on T1 weighted images in patients who have received multiple doses of gadolinium containing contrast agents 3

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