IMAGING EVALUATION OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating pain syndrome inthe sensory distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Compressionof the cisternal segment of the trigeminal nerve by a vessel,usually an artery, is considered the most common cause oftrigeminal neuralgia. A number of additional lesions mayaffect the trigeminal nerve anywhere along its course fromthe trigeminal nuclei to the most peripheral branches tocause facial pain. Relevant differential considerations arereviewed starting proximally at the level of the brainstem.