title: Epidermoid tumors in the cerebellopontine angle presenting with trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoids presenting with trigeminal neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1996 and 2004, 10 patients with typical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia were found to have cerebellopontine angle epidermoids and treated surgically at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the clinico-radiological records of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total resection was done in 6 patients (60%). Surgical removal of tumor and microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve were performed simultaneously in one case. One patient died due to postoperative aseptic meningitis. The others showed total relief from pain. During follow-up, no patients experienced recurrence of their trigeminal neuralgia (TN).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical features of TN from CPA epidermoids are characterized by symptom onset at a younger age compared to TN from vascular causes. In addition to removal of the tumor, the possibility of vascular compression at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve should be kept in mind. If it exists, a microvascular decompression (MVD) should be performed. Recurrence of tumor is rare in both total and subtotal removal cases, but long-term follow-up is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wuk
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chang Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seung Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
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