Correlative Study of MRI and Operative Results in Trigeminal Neuralgia Associated to Neurovascular Compression

Objective To evaluate MR findings and diagnostic value of neurovascular compression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.Materials and Methods MR manifestations and operative results of eightyfive patients with trigeminal neuralgia were reviewed retrospectively.Results Fiftynine sides had vascular compression or contact at MR imaging in one hundred and seventy sides of the trigeminal nerve of eightyfive patients with trigeminal neuralgia, thirtyfive sides had uncertain vascular contact. Seventyfive sides showed vascular compression, contact or uncertain contact in these eightyfive sidesrelated symptoms and signs. The difference between the symptomatic sides and asymptomatic sides was statistically significant (P0.001). Sixtynine symptomatic patients were verified as vascular compression or contact by the operation. The sensitivity and specificity of MR diagnosis of vascular compression or contact was 88.2% and 94.4% respectively, the specificity of MR diagnosis of uncertain vascular contact was 76.2%.Conclusion MR had higher specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing neurovascular compression or contact, it played an important role in demonstrating the relationship of the cisternal portion of the fifth cranial nerve to surrounding vascular structures.