Trigeminal neuropathy secondary to perineural invasion of head and neck carcinomas.
Perineural spread of head and neck cancer is an uncommon cause of cranial neuropathy. We studied five patients with cranial neuropathy resulting from perineural spread of head and neck carcinomas. Trigeminal neuropathy with facial pain or paresthesias was the most common clinical manifestation. MRI in the coronal plane under gadolinium enhancement established the diagnosis by visualization of the lower divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Perineural tumor spread can cause headaches in patients with head and neck cancer.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
R H
RH
Boerman
E M
EM
Maassen
J
J
Joosten
H A
HA
Kaanders
H A
HA
Marres
J
J
van Overbeeke
P
P
De Wilde
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D004172:Diplopia; D005157:Facial Pain; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006261:Headache; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010292:Paresthesia; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D005682:Gadolinium