Diagnostic Value of Neurovascular Compression in Trigeminal Neuralgia with MR T1W 3D-WATS Sequence

Aim:To evaluate the diagnostic value of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia with T1W 3D water selective excitation(WATS) MR sequence.Methods:Fourteen patients clinically diagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia and six controls underwent MR scans with T1W 3D-WATS sequence.The fundament images of trigeminal nerve in brain and the multiplane reformation(MPR) images were used to investigate the relationship between the trigeminal nerve and the adjoined vessels.Results:Of all the patients,2 cases showed only right and 6 cases showed only left side neurovascular compression in trigeminal nerve on T1W 3D-WATS images.Both sides of trigeminal nerve compressed by vessels were found in 5 patients,but only 1 patient had the corresponding symptoms in both sides,other 2 patients with the right symptoms and the other 2 with the left.In the six controls,there were only 2 cases showed the right or the left trigeminal nerve neurovascular compression.Through MR studies,a close relationship was found between the trigeminal nerve neurovascular compression and the clinical symptoms(P=0.03,r=0.84).Among 19 offending vessels,superior cerebellar arteries were in 13 sides,anterior inferior cerebellar artery in 1 side,basilar artery in 1 side,and difficultly identified vessels were in 4 sides.Conclusion:T1W 3D-WATS MRI can clearly show the relationship between trigeminal nerve and the surrounding vessels and help for the diagnosis of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia.