Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia caused by the cerebellopontine angle tumour

Authors: Ma, Zhaoxin; Li, Ming

Source: The Pain Clinic, Volume 19, Number 1, 2007 , pp. 15-19(5)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Buy & download fulltext article:

The full text is free.

View now:

PDF 138.7kb

Abstract:

Objective: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of secondary trigeminal neuralgia with cerebellopontine angle tumour.

Methods: Twelve cases of secondary trigeminal neuralgia were treated during 2001–2004, and 7 were analyzed with regard to clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. Twelve patients with trigeminal neuralgia associated with cerebellopontine angle tumour were studied, including 7 patients with epidermoid cysts of cerebellopontine angle and 5 patients with the meningioma of cerebellopontine angle. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed space-occupying at cerebellopontine angle.

Results: With cerebellopontine angle tumours removed through the retrosigmoid sinus approach, the secondary trigeminal neuralgia in all patients was completely relieved without surgical complications postoperatively. The follow-up period was 1–3 years. Recurrent trigeminal neuraligia occurred only in one patient at 1.5 years postoperatively (after operation at 1.5 years).

Conclusions: MRI has made a significant contribution to the diagnosis of secondary trigeminal neuralgia. Microsurgery through the retrosigmoid sinus approach is the first-line treatment of secondary trigeminal neuralgia caused by cerebellopontine tumours.

Articles that cite this article?

Keywords: MENINGIOMA; TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA; MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI); EPIDERMOID CYSTS; CEREBELLOPONTINE ANGLE (CPA)

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/016911107X217455

Publication date: 2007-08-01

More about this publication?