Structural abnormalities of trigeminal root with neurovascular compression revealed by high resolution diffusion tensor imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To detect neurovascular compression-induced structural abnormalities of trigeminal nerves (TGN) by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).


METHODS
The affected ipsilateral TGN (iTGN) and unaffected contralateral TGN (cTGN) of 20 trifacial neuralgia (TN) patients as well as the bilateral TGN of 10 normal controls (nTGN) were examined by DTI and 3D high resolution MRI using a 3.0 T MRI scanner. The fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were determined.


RESULTS
Compared with the cTGN and nTGN, the iTGN had significantly lower fraction of anisotropy (FA), significantly higher ADC, and significantly smaller volume and cross-sectional area (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in ADC and decrease in FA has a close relationship with morphological changes of TGN, and the DTI could provide valuable diagnostic information on TGN structure for TN patients.
Radiology Department, Municipal Hospital of Haikou, Hainan, China.
Jing
J
Chen
Zi-Yi
ZY
Guo
Qi-Zhou
QZ
Liang
Hai-Yan
HY
Liao
Wen-Rui
WR
Su
Cai-Xiang
CX
Chen
Shui-Xi
SX
Fu
Xiang-Jun
XJ
Han
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000473:pathology*