Trigeminal Neuralgia and Brain Tumors

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia is caused infrequently by brain tumors. The tumor may be upon but extrinsic to the trigeminal peripheral divisions, the gasserian ganglion, the retrogasserian rootlets (in between the gasserian ganglion and the brain stem) [1] or in the trigeminal pathways in the brain itself [2]. In any of these locations, the facial pain may be typical trigeminal neuralgia (paroxysmal, provokable, episodic, unilateral, distributed in one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve, and associated with a normal neurologic examination) or it may be atypical trigeminal neuralgia [3] (paroxysmal, triggered face pain associated with one or more atypical features: a continuous pain in between the paroxysms, an abnormal neurologic examination, or distribution that is not precisely trigeminal) [1]. It is important to recognize the presence of a tumor because treatment should often be directed at the tumor rather than just the pain.