The Role of Imaging for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Segmental Approach to High-Resolution MRI

Daniel P Seeburg; Benjamin Northcutt; Nafi Aygun; Ari M Blitz

doi:10.1016/j.nec.2016.02.004

The Role of Imaging for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Segmental Approach to High-Resolution MRI

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2016 Jul;27(3):315-26. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2016.02.004.

Authors

Daniel P Seeburg¹, Benjamin Northcutt¹, Nafi Aygun¹, Ari M Blitz²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neuroradiology, The Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Phipps B-100, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
² Division of Neuroradiology, The Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Phipps B-100, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: Ablitz1@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 27324998
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2016.02.004

Abstract

High-resolution MRI affords exquisite anatomic detail and allows radiologists to scrutinize the entire course of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve [CN] V). This article focuses first on the normal MRI appearance of the course of CN V and how best to image each segment. Special attention is then devoted to the role of MRI in presurgical evaluation of patients with neurovascular conflict and in identifying secondary causes of trigeminal neuralgia, including multiple sclerosis. Fundamental concepts in postsurgical imaging after neurovascular decompression are also addressed. Finally, how imaging has been used to better understand the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia is discussed.

Keywords: MRI; Neurovascular contact; Trigeminal neuralgia.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Decompression, Surgical / methods
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Trigeminal Nerve / diagnostic imaging*
Trigeminal Nerve / surgery
Trigeminal Neuralgia / diagnostic imaging*
Trigeminal Neuralgia / surgery