title: Pathogenesis, Surgical Treatment, and Cure for SUNCT Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) are characterized by attacks of moderate to severe stabbing pain, strictly unilateral, with periorbital or temporal distribution, associated with cranial autonomic symptoms, such as lacrimation and redness of the ipsilateral eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  To obtain mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of SUNCT syndrome, more than 800 cases treated in our institution during the last 7 years were retrospectively reviewed. Two patients showed typical autonomic symptoms of SUNCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Magnetic resonance imaging suggested potential compression of the trigeminal nerve by the intracranial artery in these cases and complete remission was achieved by microvascular decompression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microvascular decompression provides an appropriate therapeutic choice if vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve is identified. From our 2 cases, we propose that, in some cases of SUNCT diagnosed previously, characteristic symptoms were induced by compression of the side surface of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve at the root exit zone by the intracranial artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chiba Tokushukai Hospital, Funabashi, Japan. Electronic address: isao.k@tokushukai.jp.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kitahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chiba Tokushukai Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ataru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Shizuoka-Shimizu Municipal Hospital, Shimizu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Chiba Tokushukai Hospital, Funabashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokochi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050798:SUNCT Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Microvascular decompression; SUNA; SUNCT; Typical trigeminal neuralgia