title: Typical trigeminal neuralgia by an atypical compression: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trigeminal neuralgia is a disabling form of facial pain that causes a considerable discomfort and a marked reduction in the quality of life. Although neurovascular compression is often associated with trigeminal neuralgia, other intracranial pathologies can result in compression along the nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors report a case of a patient suffering from a typical left trigeminal neuralgia affecting both the second and the third branches. Neuroradiological examinations showed the presence of an arachnoid cyst located in the left temporal lobe, contiguous with the Meckel's cave, eroding the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Following a meticulous decision-making process the patient underwent conservative treatment with success. A properly modulation of the drug dosage allowed pain relief to be achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a rare case reporting a typical trigeminal neuralgia by an arachnoid cyst of the Meckel's cave mimicking a neurovascular compression syndrome. Our findings, behind the review of the current literature, point out the importance of such a pathological condition when dealing with patients affected by cranial nerve dysfunction syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Palermo, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Neurosurgical Clinic, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giambartino
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciola
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomasello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D002220:Carbamazepine