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55. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
1. Joint Meeting mit der Ungarischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) e. V.

25. bis 28.04.2004, Köln

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MR Volumetry of the trigeminal nerve in patients with unilateral facial pain

MR-Volumetrie des N. trigeminus bei Patienten mit einseitigen Gesichtsschmerzen

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  • corresponding author Bodo Kress - Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • D. Rasche - Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • J. Fiebach - Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • V. Tronnier - Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • K. Sartor - Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • C. Stippich - Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Ungarische Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 55. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 1. Joint Meeting mit der Ungarischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Köln, 25.-28.04.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. DocMO.11.01

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2004/04dgnc0107.shtml

Published: April 23, 2004

© 2004 Kress et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess whether atrophy of the trigeminal nerve can be detected by MRI in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Methods

We conducted a prospective MRI study in 39 patients (trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal neuropathy, or atypical facial pain) and 25 volunteers. Using a coronal orientation (T1 Flash 3D; T2CISS 3D), regions of interest were delineated in the cisternal part of the nerve along the border of the trigeminal nerve to obtain the volume of the nerve.The volume of the nerve was compared side-by-side in each patient (t-test, p<0.05) and the volume difference was compared between patients and volunteers.

Results

The volume of the compromised trigeminal nerve in patients with trigeminal neuralgia was lower than on the healthy side and the difference between the healthy and compromised side was statistically significant (p<0.05). In all other patients and in all volunteers as well there was no significant difference between the volume of the healthy and compromised nerve.The volume difference between the healthy and compromised side in patients with trigeminal neuralgia was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in all other patients and volunteers.

Conclusions

Atrophy of the trigeminal nerve caused by a nerve-vessel conflict can be detected by MRI. Only patients with trigeminal neuralgia show this unilateral atrophy. Therefore, it is possible to demonstrate the pathological significance and determine the consequences of such a nerve-vessel conflict.