title: Spontaneous Meckel's cave hematoma: A rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common etiology of classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is vascular compression. However, other causes must be considered. Among these, spontaneous hematoma of the Meckel's cave (MC) causing symptomatic TN is very rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with a 2-month history of left TN and diplopia. Neuroradiological examinations revealed a well-defined hematoma in the left MC. The patient underwent surgical decompression with a progressive neurological improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the number of lesions potentially affecting the MC, spontaneous hemorrhage is rare but should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alafaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomasello
keywords: Intracranial hemorrhage; Meckel's cave; trigeminal neuralgia