title: MRI of the Trigeminal Nerve in Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia Secondary to Vascular Compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating facial pain disorder, frequently caused by vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve. Vascular compression that results in trigeminal neuralgia occurs along the cisternal segment of the nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging combined with clinical information is critical to correctly identify patients who are candidates for microvascular decompression. The purpose of this article is to review trigeminal nerve anatomy and to provide strategies for radiologists to recognize important MRI findings in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Marion A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Ste B-400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Frederickson
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.|3 Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Barton F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Branstetter
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Ste B-400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Ste B-400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: Raymond F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Sekula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: cranial nerves; microvascular decompression; neurovascular compression; trigeminal nerve; trigeminal neuralgia