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Trigeminal neuropathy associated with an enlarging arachnoid cyst in Meckel’s cave: case report, management strategy and review of the literature

  • Case Report - Neurosurgical Techniques
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Abstract

We describe a rare case and novel management strategy of painful trigeminal neuropathy caused by an arachnoid cyst confined to Meckel’s cave. A 57-year-old female presented with several years of progressive trigeminal pain and signs of trigeminal deafferentation, including sensory loss, corneal anesthesia and mastication muscle atrophy. Medical treatment with carbamazepine provided partial and temporary pain control. Surgical treatment was eventually performed by aspiration of the arachnoid cyst through the foramen ovale using a percutaneous approach. The patient experienced relief of pain and improvement of numbness and muscle strength. To our knowledge, this is the first case description of a percutaneous drainage of a Meckel’s cave arachnoid cyst.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Neurosurgery, University of Manitoba, GB137 Health Sciences Centre, 820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1R9, Canada

    Mark G. Bigder, Adel Helmi & Anthony M. Kaufmann

Authors
  1. Mark G. Bigder
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  2. Adel Helmi
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  3. Anthony M. Kaufmann
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Correspondence to Mark G. Bigder.

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All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Comments

The authors present an interesting, simple and innovative approach (transcutaneous puncture) to a rather uncommon clinical problem: a symptomatic arachnoid cyst located in Meckel’s cave.

Knut Wester

Bergen, Norway

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Bigder, M.G., Helmi, A. & Kaufmann, A.M. Trigeminal neuropathy associated with an enlarging arachnoid cyst in Meckel’s cave: case report, management strategy and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir 159, 2309–2312 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3262-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3262-5

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