Classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN): Typical clinical syndrome of paroxysmal pain in unilateral trigeminal nerve (CNV) distribution with radiologic evidence of vessel or vascular loop producing compression of proximal CNV
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Jain A et al: Absence of Meckel cave: a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. ePub, 2021
Jani RH et al: Trigeminal nerve compression without trigeminal neuralgia: intraoperative vs imaging evidence. Neurosurgery. 84(1):60-5, 2019
Spina A et al: Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: when? Neurosurg Rev. 42(2):599-601, 2019
Brînzeu A et al: Reliability of MRI for predicting characteristics of neurovascular conflicts in trigeminal neuralgia: implications for surgical decision making. J Neurosurg. 1-11, 2018
Majeed MH et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: a clinical review for the general physician. Cureus. 10(12):e3750, 2018
Cruccu G et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: new classification and diagnostic grading for practice and research. Neurology. 87(2):220-8, 2016
Mistry AM et al: Neurovascular compression at the root entry zone correlates with trigeminal neuralgia and early microvascular decompression outcome. World Neurosurg. 95:208-13, 2016
Maarbjerg S et al: Significance of neurovascular contact in classical trigeminal neuralgia. Brain. 138(Pt 2):311-9, 2015
Leal PR et al: Atrophic changes in the trigeminal nerves of patients with trigeminal neuralgia due to neurovascular compression and their association with the severity of compression and clinical outcomes. J Neurosurg. 120(6):1484-95, 2014
Anqi X et al: MR cisternography in the posterior fossa: the evaluation of trigeminal neurovascular compression. Turk Neurosurg. 23(2):218-25, 2013
Lee JK et al: Long-term outcome of gamma knife surgery using a retrogasserian petrous bone target for classic trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 116:127-35, 2013
Garcia M et al: High-resolution 3D-constructive interference in steady-state MR imaging and 3D time-of-flight MR angiography in neurovascular compression: a comparison between 3T and 1.5T. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 33(7):1251-6, 2012
Leal PR et al: Visualization of vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve with high-resolution 3T MRI: a prospective study comparing preoperative imaging analysis to surgical findings in 40 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgery. 69(1):15-25; discussion 26, 2011
Lutz J et al: Trigeminal neuralgia due to neurovascular compression: high-spatial-resolution diffusion-tensor imaging reveals microstructural neural changes. Radiology. 258(2):524-30, 2011
Leal PR et al: Preoperative demonstration of the neurovascular compression characteristics with special emphasis on the degree of compression, using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging: a prospective study, with comparison to surgical findings, in 100 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 152(5):817-25, 2010
Fariselli L et al: CyberKnife radiosurgery as a first treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgery. 64(2 Suppl):A96-101, 2009
Kabatas S et al: Microvascular decompression as a surgical management for trigeminal neuralgia: long-term follow-up and review of the literature. Neurosurg Rev. 32(1):87-93; discussion 93-4, 2009
Miller JP et al: Radiographic evaluation of trigeminal neurovascular compression in patients with and without trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 110(4):627-32, 2009
Satoh T et al: Severity analysis of neurovascular contact in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: assessment with the inner view of the 3D MR cisternogram and angiogram fusion imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 30(3):603-7, 2009
Sindou M et al: Microvascular decompression for primary trigeminal neuralgia: long-term effectiveness and prognostic factors in a series of 362 consecutive patients with clear-cut neurovascular conflicts who underwent pure decompression. J Neurosurg. 107(6):1144-53, 2007
Anderson VC et al: High-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography and three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled imaging in the evaluation of neurovascular compression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a double-blind pilot study. Neurosurgery. 58(4):666-73; discussion 666-73, 2006
Erbay SH et al: Nerve atrophy in severe trigeminal neuralgia: noninvasive confirmation at MR imaging--initial experience. Radiology. 238(2):689-92, 2006
Yoshino N et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: evaluation of neuralgic manifestation and site of neurovascular compression with 3D CISS MR imaging and MR angiography. Radiology. 228(2):539-45, 2003
Zakrzewska JM: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. Clin J Pain. 18(1):14-21, 2002
Love S et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: pathology and pathogenesis. Brain. 124(Pt 12):2347-60, 2001
Majoie CB et al: Trigeminal neuropathy: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiographics. 15(4):795-811, 1995
Darlow LA et al: Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 50(6):621-6, 1992
Hutchins LG et al: Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux): MR imaging assessment. Radiology. 175(3):837-41, 1990
Classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN): Typical clinical syndrome of paroxysmal pain in unilateral trigeminal nerve (CNV) distribution with radiologic evidence of vessel or vascular loop producing compression of proximal CNV
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Jain A et al: Absence of Meckel cave: a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. ePub, 2021
Jani RH et al: Trigeminal nerve compression without trigeminal neuralgia: intraoperative vs imaging evidence. Neurosurgery. 84(1):60-5, 2019
Spina A et al: Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: when? Neurosurg Rev. 42(2):599-601, 2019
Brînzeu A et al: Reliability of MRI for predicting characteristics of neurovascular conflicts in trigeminal neuralgia: implications for surgical decision making. J Neurosurg. 1-11, 2018
Majeed MH et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: a clinical review for the general physician. Cureus. 10(12):e3750, 2018
Cruccu G et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: new classification and diagnostic grading for practice and research. Neurology. 87(2):220-8, 2016
Mistry AM et al: Neurovascular compression at the root entry zone correlates with trigeminal neuralgia and early microvascular decompression outcome. World Neurosurg. 95:208-13, 2016
Maarbjerg S et al: Significance of neurovascular contact in classical trigeminal neuralgia. Brain. 138(Pt 2):311-9, 2015
Leal PR et al: Atrophic changes in the trigeminal nerves of patients with trigeminal neuralgia due to neurovascular compression and their association with the severity of compression and clinical outcomes. J Neurosurg. 120(6):1484-95, 2014
Anqi X et al: MR cisternography in the posterior fossa: the evaluation of trigeminal neurovascular compression. Turk Neurosurg. 23(2):218-25, 2013
Lee JK et al: Long-term outcome of gamma knife surgery using a retrogasserian petrous bone target for classic trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 116:127-35, 2013
Garcia M et al: High-resolution 3D-constructive interference in steady-state MR imaging and 3D time-of-flight MR angiography in neurovascular compression: a comparison between 3T and 1.5T. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 33(7):1251-6, 2012
Leal PR et al: Visualization of vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve with high-resolution 3T MRI: a prospective study comparing preoperative imaging analysis to surgical findings in 40 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgery. 69(1):15-25; discussion 26, 2011
Lutz J et al: Trigeminal neuralgia due to neurovascular compression: high-spatial-resolution diffusion-tensor imaging reveals microstructural neural changes. Radiology. 258(2):524-30, 2011
Leal PR et al: Preoperative demonstration of the neurovascular compression characteristics with special emphasis on the degree of compression, using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging: a prospective study, with comparison to surgical findings, in 100 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 152(5):817-25, 2010
Fariselli L et al: CyberKnife radiosurgery as a first treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgery. 64(2 Suppl):A96-101, 2009
Kabatas S et al: Microvascular decompression as a surgical management for trigeminal neuralgia: long-term follow-up and review of the literature. Neurosurg Rev. 32(1):87-93; discussion 93-4, 2009
Miller JP et al: Radiographic evaluation of trigeminal neurovascular compression in patients with and without trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 110(4):627-32, 2009
Satoh T et al: Severity analysis of neurovascular contact in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: assessment with the inner view of the 3D MR cisternogram and angiogram fusion imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 30(3):603-7, 2009
Sindou M et al: Microvascular decompression for primary trigeminal neuralgia: long-term effectiveness and prognostic factors in a series of 362 consecutive patients with clear-cut neurovascular conflicts who underwent pure decompression. J Neurosurg. 107(6):1144-53, 2007
Anderson VC et al: High-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography and three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled imaging in the evaluation of neurovascular compression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a double-blind pilot study. Neurosurgery. 58(4):666-73; discussion 666-73, 2006
Erbay SH et al: Nerve atrophy in severe trigeminal neuralgia: noninvasive confirmation at MR imaging--initial experience. Radiology. 238(2):689-92, 2006
Yoshino N et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: evaluation of neuralgic manifestation and site of neurovascular compression with 3D CISS MR imaging and MR angiography. Radiology. 228(2):539-45, 2003
Zakrzewska JM: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. Clin J Pain. 18(1):14-21, 2002
Love S et al: Trigeminal neuralgia: pathology and pathogenesis. Brain. 124(Pt 12):2347-60, 2001
Majoie CB et al: Trigeminal neuropathy: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiographics. 15(4):795-811, 1995
Darlow LA et al: Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 50(6):621-6, 1992
Hutchins LG et al: Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux): MR imaging assessment. Radiology. 175(3):837-41, 1990
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