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Radiographic position of the trigeminal nerve in the skull for angiographic determination of arterial-nerve relationship in trigeminal neuralgia: results of a radiologic-anatomic study

Repérage radiographique du nerf trijumeau intracrânien Pour la détermination angiographique des rapports artérionerveux dans la névralgie du trijumeau: Résultats d'une étude anatomoradiologique

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Summary

The positions of 20 trigeminal nerves in the skulls of 12 cadavers were evaluated radiographically. Small metal clips were attached to the nerves and radiographs were obtained in straight AP, Towne and lateral projections. It was found that the trigeminal nerve had a fairly constant position in the skull with respect to the internal auditory meatus in the AP and Towne projections and the petrous ridges in the lateral view. This information can be used during vertebral angiography to predict whether an arterial loop is sufficiently close to the trigeminal nerve root for arterial compression of the nerve, causing trigeminal neuralgia, to be a realistic possibility.

Résumé

Une étude radiologique du repérage de 20 nerfs trijumeaux a été faite sur les crânes de 12 cadavres. De petits clips métalliques ont été placés sur les nerfs et des radios ont été prises de face, de profil et en incidence de Towne. Cette étude montre que le nerf trijumeau a une position relativement constante par rapport au conduit auditif interne sur les clichés de face et de Towne, et au rocher sur les clichés de profil. Cette information est utile lors d'angiographies vertébrales afin de prévoir avec fiabilité si une boucle artérielle est suffisamment rapprochée du nerf trijumeau pour Être susceptible de provoquer une compression du nerf et entraÎner ainsi une névralgie du trijumeau.

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  1. Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Medical Center, Box 170, 22908, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    E. E. de Lange

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de Lange, E.E. Radiographic position of the trigeminal nerve in the skull for angiographic determination of arterial-nerve relationship in trigeminal neuralgia: results of a radiologic-anatomic study. Surg Radiol Anat 9, 193–200 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02109630

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02109630

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