Diagnostic value of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia with 3D-TOF MRA and postprocessing techniques

Objective To evaluate diagnostic value of 3D time-of-flight (3D-TOF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRA) and postprocessing techniques in neurovascular compression (NVC) in trigeminal neuralgia.Methods 38 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were examined by 3D-TOF MRA.MRA fundament images and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images were blindly interpreted by 2 neuroradiologists.Results (1) Of all the patients, 31 cases showed vascular compression or contact on MR imaging, 26 cases showed the vascular compression or contact at the same side of clinic symptoms. There was a statistic correlation between NVC and trigeminal neuralgia ( P0.005). (2) 12 (85.7%) of 14 patients with symptoms related to V2 (second branch area of trigeminal nerve) had NVC at the medial site of trigeminal nerve, while 7 (70%) of 10 patients with symptoms related to V3 (third branch area of trigeminal nerve) had NVC at the lateral site of trigeminal nerve ( P0.005).Conclusion 3D-TOF MRA and MPR may display cistern section of trigeminal nerve and its adjoined vessel. A close relationship was found between the region of neuralgic manifestation and the site of trigeminal nerve compression.