Diagnostic Value of 3D-TOF MRA in Evaluation of Neurovascular Compression in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia and Hemifacial Spasm

Objective To evaluate MR findings and diagnostic value of 3D time-of-flight MRA in patients with hemifacial spasm.Methods MR manifestations and operative results of twenty-six patients with trigeminal neuralgia and twenty patients with hemifacial spasm were reviewed retrospectively.Results Fifty-four offending vessels had artery-nerve contact at MR imaging.Sixty arteries and twelve veins were verified as offending vessels by the operation.The positive rate of offending vessels of 3D-TOF-MRA was 90% and 0 for artery and vein respectively,and the average rate was 75%.Conclusion 3D-TOF-MRA have high positive rate in diagnosing artery compression or contact,and it played an important role in preoperative evaluation and treatment.