[Isolated trigeminal sensory neuropathy due to pontine infarction of the root entry zone--report of two cases].
Secondary trigeminal neuralgia and isolated trigeminal neuropathy due to ischemic lesion of the pons are very rare. We report 2 patients with pontine infarct transecting the central trigeminal pathways resulting in trigeminal neuropathy and/or neuralgia. Case 1: A 48-year-old female presented with lancinating pain and paresthesia and hypesthesia in the right V2 and V3 distributions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain demonstrated a wedge-shaped infarct at the root entry zone (REZ) of the right trigeminal nerve in the pons. Case 2: A 66-year-old female presented with paresthesia and hypesthesia in the right V1, V2 and V3 distributions. MRI demonstrated a small wedge-shaped infarct at REZ. This infarction of the REZ may have led to produce the isolated trigeminal neuralgia and trigeminal neuropathy.
Kinoshita
Yoshimasa
Y
Department of Neurosurgery, Munakata Suikokai General Hospital, 341-1 Kamisaigo, Fukutsu, Fukuoka 811 3298, Japan.
Harada
Atsukuni
A
Yasukouchi
Hideoki
H
Tsuru
Eichi
E
Okudera
Toshio
T
D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D011149:Pons / Q000098:blood supply*; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*