title: MRI characteristics of trigeminal nerve involvement in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trigeminal neuralgia and central sensory disturbances are common in patients with multiple sclerosis. The anatomic correlation to lesions in the trigeminal nuclei in the brainstem is not well studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the anatomical characteristics of demyelinating lesions of the trigeminal complex in the brainstem on MRI in patients with MS and Clinically Isolated syndrome (CIS).
  
  
  METHODS
  43 Patients with MS or CIS and MRI lesions in the trigeminal complex in the brainstem were selected from a large database of patients referred for MRI because of trigeminal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A linear plaque involving the intrapontine fascicular part of the trigeminal nerve and lesions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract seem to be distinctive MRI findings in patients with RRMS or CIS.
authors: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium. Electronic address: Charlotteswinnen@hotmail.com.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Swinnen
authors: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium; Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Blasius Hospital, Kroonveldlaan 50, B-9200 Dendermonde, Belgium.
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Lunskens
authors: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Deryck
authors: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium; Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Casselman
authors: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium.
authors: Ludo
authors: L
authors: Vanopdenbosch
keywords: Brainstem; Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS); Demyelination; MRI; Multiple sclerosis; Trigeminal nerve