title: Familial trigeminal neuralgia: case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: The paroxysmal facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia is usually idiopathic, but familial cases have been described. We describe a family with apparent autosomal dominant transmission of trigeminal neuralgia. Our cases and a review of the literature suggest that the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia may be vascular compression of the fifth cranial nerve. Autosomal dominant vascular and epileptic disorders are reviewed, and possible relationships to familial trigeminal neuralgia are considered.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greenough
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stommel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000235:genetics*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve