Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluating Various Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia

The main aim of our study was to evaluate various cases of trigeminal neuralgia by magnetic resonance imaging and to correlate MRI findings with clinical data. This study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Maharajahs Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram. Fifty patients in the age group between 30-65 years who came to the outpatient department with trigeminal pain were included in this study. MRI of the brain with dedicated trigeminal nerve protocol was conducted. Contrast was given in some cases according to the findings in the conventional scan. The etiology of trigeminal pain could be detected by MRI in 31 out of 53 patients, 22 patients had idiopathic type trigeminal neuralgia. Nine patients had tumors, 12 patients had vascular anomalies. Six patients had post-trigeminal injury pains. Three patients had demyelination and one patient had postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia. Cisternal portion was the most common intracranial portion involved, followed by the brain stem. MRI brain is a useful modality and is helpful to detect various causes of trigeminal neuralgia in association with clinical findings.