Original Article
Year : 2023 | Volume : 7 | Issue : 1 | Page : 8 - 12
The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the evaluation of Trigeminal Neuralgia: a pilot study
Rohini Bhosale, MDS1* | Bhavana Murjani, MDS1* | Easwaran Ramaswami, MDS1* | Sonali Kadam, MDS1* | Sandesh Suryawanshi, MDS1* | Surabhi Srivastava, BDS1*
1Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai-400001, India
Correspondence
Dr. Bhavana Murjani, MDS, Ex-Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai-400001, India
Email: bhavana.murjani91@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction
Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating painful condition affecting one or more branches of trigeminal nerve characterized by sharp shooting, electric shock like pain lasting for a short time. In most cases, no specific cause can be identified but certain do tend to occur due to lesions or damage to the trigeminal nerve due to vascular compression, tumors, etc. which can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Hence, this pilot study was conducted to identify any underlying causes for trigeminal neuralgia using magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods
A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 10 patients who were presented to department with clinical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with trigeminal protocol was conducted. The evaluation of the entire course of the trigeminal nerve was then performed by an experienced radiologist.
Results
Out of the 10 patients, 6 were females and 4 males. Four patients did not show presence of any pathology i.e. were idiopathic. Five cases reported with neurovascular compression and one showed the presence of a tumor at the cerebellopontine angle compressing the nerve.
Conclusion
In this study, with use of magnetic resonance imaging, a 60% occurrence of an underlying pathology was demonstrated which could be treated to relieve the neuralgia. Hence, taking into account the high prevalence of etiological factors which could contribute towards trigeminal neuralgia detected on MRI, large scale studies can be considered for the same.
Funding information
Nil
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare
How to cite this article:
Bhosale, R., Murjani, B., Ramaswami, E., Kadam, S., Suryawanshi, S., & Srivastava, S. (2023). The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the evaluation of Trigeminal Neuralgia: a pilot study. International Journal of Orofacial Research, 7(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.56501/intjorofacres.v7i1.780
