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Loss of anisotropy in trigeminal neuralgia revealed by diffusion tensor imaging

From the Departments of Neuroradiology (C.H., B.K., K.S., C.S.) and Pediatric Radiology (C.H., J.T.), Heidelberg Medical School, University of Heidelberg; and Department of Neurosurgery (D.R., V.T.), Medical Faculty Lubeck, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lubeck, Germany.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Christian Herweh, Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69125 Heidelberg, Germany; e-mail: christian_herweh{at}med.uni-heidelberg.de

We studied the trigeminal nerve in seven healthy volunteers and six patients with trigeminal neuralgia using the diffusion tensor imaging derived parameter fractional anisotropy (FA). While controls did not show a difference between both sides, there was a reduction of FA in the affected nerve in three of six patients with accompanying nerve–vessel conflict and atrophy. Reversibility of abnormally low FA values was demonstrated in one patient successfully treated with microvascular decompression.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received March 10, 2006. Accepted in final form November 10, 2006.