Trigeminal neuralgia
The facial pain syndrome known as trigeminal neuralgia was described more than 300 years ago 1).
Definition
Trigeminal neuralgia definition.
Epidemiology
see Trigeminal neuralgia epidemiology.
Classification
see Trigeminal neuralgia classification.
Pathogenesis
see Trigeminal neuralgia pathogenesis.
Pathophysiology
see Trigeminal neuralgia pathophysiology.
Natural History
Typical trigeminal neuralgia caused by microvascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root in the posterior fossa may become transformed over time into atypical trigeminal neuralgia, if left untreated. This transformation involves change in the character of pain and development of sensory impairment. Two representative cases are presented to support this theory.
If the theory of progressive change in character of pain and degree of sensory impairment in the course of otherwise typical trigeminal neuralgia is correct, trigeminal neuralgia, atypical neuralgia, and trigeminal neuropathic pain may represent different degrees of injury to the trigeminal nerve, therefore comprising a continuous spectrum rather than discrete diagnoses 2).
Clinical Features
Trigeminal neuralgia clinical features.
Scales
Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale.
Barrow Neurological Facial Numbness Scale.
Slavin KV. Commentary: Development and Evaluation of a Preoperative Trigeminal Neuralgia Scoring System to Predict Long-Term Outcome Following Microvascular Decompression. Neurosurgery. 2019 Dec 9. pii: nyz540. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyz540. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31813971.
Diagnosis
Trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis.
Treatment
see Trigeminal neuralgia treatment.
Outcome
see Trigeminal neuralgia outcome.
Case series
see Trigeminal neuralgia case series.
Case reports
see Trigeminal neuralgia case reports.