[Trigeminal neuralgia: how often are trigeminal nerve-vessel contacts found by MRI in normal volunteers].
OBJECTIVE
To assess prospectively how often contacts are found between the trigeminal nerve and arteries or veins in the perimesencephalic cistern via MRI in normal volunteers.


METHODS
48 volunteers without a history of trigeminal neuralgia were examined prospectively (MRI at 1.5 T; T2-CISS sequence, coronal orientation, 0.9 mm slice thickness). Two radiologists decided by consensus whether there was a nerve-vessel contact in the perimesencephalic cistern.


RESULTS
In 27 % of the volunteers, no contact was found between the trigeminal nerve and regional vessels, while in 73 %, such a contact was present. In 61 % of the cases, the offending vessel was an artery, in 39 %, it was a vein. In 2 volunteers, a deformation of the nerve was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to what has been suggested by retrospective studies, the majority of normal volunteers, if studied prospectively, do show a contact between the trigeminal nerve and local vessels. A close proximity between the nerve and regional vessels is thus normal and is not necessarily proof of a pathological nerve-vessel conflict.
Kress
B
B
Abteilung Neuroradiologie, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinik Heidelberg. bodo_kress@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Schindler
M
M
Rasche
D
D
Hähnel
S
S
Tronnier
V
V
Sartor
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology