The MRI volumetry of the posterior fossa and its substructures in trigeminal neuralgia: a validated study.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine whether the anatomical configuration of the posterior fossa and its substructures might represent a predisposition factor for the occurrence of clinical neurovascular conflict in trigeminal neuralgia (TN).


METHODS
We used MRI volumetry in 18 patients with TN and 15 controls. The volume of the pontomesencephalic cistern, Meckel's cave and the trigeminal nerve on the clinical and non-affected sides was compared. The reliability has been assessed in all measurements.


RESULTS
The posterior fossa volume was not different in the clinical and control groups; there was no difference between the affected and non-affected sides when measuring the pontomesencephalic cistern and Meckel's cave volume either. The volume of the clinically affected trigeminal nerve was significantly reduced, but with a higher error of measurement.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not find any association between the clinical neurovascular conflict (NVC) and the size of the posterior fossa and its substructures. MRI volumetry may show the atrophy of the affected trigeminal nerve in clinical NVC.
Horínek
D
D
Department of Neurosurgery, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Central Military Hospital Prague, U Vojenske Nemocnice 1200, Praha 616000, Czech Republic. daniel.horinek@uvn.cz
Brezová
V
V
Nimsky
C
C
Belsan
T
T
Martinkovic
L
L
Masopust
V
V
Vrána
J
J
Kozler
P
P
Plas
J
J
Krýsl
D
D
Varjassyová
A
A
Ghaly
Y
Y
Benes
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015984:Causality; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology