Skip to main content
Home / Neurographics, Volume 2, Number 4

Free Content Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Affecting the Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus and Tract

Download Article:

Authors: Reichel, Michael A.; Meltzer, Daniel E.

Source: Neurographics, Volume 2, Number 4, 1 December 2012, pp. 144-147(4)

Publisher: American Society of Neuroradiology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ng.4120041

We report a case of a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus involving the spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract. The patient presented with 1 week of right-sided eye pain associated with swelling, white discharge, and ulcerative papules involving the surrounding skin. MR imaging showed findings typical of disease involving the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, with additional linear signal-intensity abnormality of the ipsilateral brain stem. This constellation of findings is consistent with transaxonal spread of herpes zoster along the trigeminal nerve and the STNT.

Keywords: STN = spinal trigeminal nucleus; STNT = spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract; STT = spinal trigeminal tract; VPM = ventral posterior medial nucleus; VZV = varicella zoster virus

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 01 December 2012

More about this publication?
  • Neurographics is the peer-reviewed, quarterly educational journal of the American Society of Neuroradiology. The journal includes review articles as well as high-yield case reports that have been solicited from society meetings, including the annual meeting of the ASNR as well as the American Society of Spine Radiology, the American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology, and the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology meetings. Unsolicited educational review articles and case reports are also accepted for review at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Submissions focusing on a pictorial approach to educational objectives are highly encouraged. The journal is open access and available online. CME credit is offered for reading review articles and completing activity evaluations through the ASNR Education Connection website: https://www.pathlms.com/asnr
  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Membership Information
  • Order a Print Copy
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content