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Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Imaging Studies for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Patients diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) should undergo imaging studies with high-quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out the possibility of the pain resulting from a tumor or multiple sclerosis. Routine MRI, however, often does not show the compression of the trigeminal nerve by adjacent blood vessels. Specific MRI sequences that may aid in identifying a neurovascular compression include:
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) - a special MRI study that provides very detailed images of the blood vessels.
- Three-dimensional volume acquisitions such as a spoiled grass (SPGR) technique.
