Sama Surya Sravani
BACKGROUND
Neuralgia is the set of symptoms associated with nerve dysfunction. The most common of these symptoms is pain, which can occur intermittently in one area of the body or can radiate along the length of a damaged nerve. The most common type of neuralgia is trigeminal neuralgia. This study focuses on the effectiveness of MRI in visualising the entire course of trigeminal nerve and to diagnose the exact location, aetiology responsible for trigeminal neuralgia and possible pretreatment evaluation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Clinical records and imaging studies of 30 patients between the ages of 18-60 years who presented to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, KIMS, for brain magnetic resonance imaging with (Philips 1.5T machine) during June 2015 to December 2016 were analysed retrospectively.
RESULTS
??? The entire course of trigeminal nerve is evaluated in these patients.
??? There are different causes of trigeminal neuralgia, but in our study, most frequent cause is mechanical irritation of nerve is due to neurovascular contact (24 cases). The other causes identified are cerebellopontine angle lesions, brainstem tumours, demyelinating disease involving brainstem.
??? The cisternal portion of the nerve is the most common site of involvement.
CONCLUSION
Trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve. MRI is unique as it produces images of entire course of the nerve. Of the many causes of trigeminal neuralgia, neurovascular conflict is the most common cause. The exact location and degree of neurovascular compression is graded on MRI.
