The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract

Introducation: Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by electric shock-like pain, abrupt in onset and brief, in the distribution of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia can occur due to lesions affecting trigeminal nerve, either vascular, neoplastic, infectious or inflammatory. Neurovascular compression is found to be the cause in most cases. Aim: The aim of this study is to study and classify brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients aged >18 years who presented with clinical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Materials and Methods: Clinical records and imaging studies of 75 patients between the ages of 18-60 years who presented to the Dept of Radio-diagnosis, BMCRI for brain magnetic resonance imaging during May 2014 to May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Neurovascular compression at the root entry zone was found to be the most common cause of trigeminal neuralgia in our study. Some of the other causes that were identified in our study include cerebellopontine (CP) angle tumors, brain stem infarct, multiple sclerosis (MS), etc. Conclusion: The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of trigeminal neuralgia is to identify those causes that are amenable to surgical treatment such as neurovascular compression and tumors.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• neurovascular compression
• schwannoma