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Overview of Trigeminal Neuralgia

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Trigeminal Neuralgia

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Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a manifestation of orofacial neuropathic pain that is recurrent, abrupt in onset and termination, triggered by innocuous stimuli, and typically compared to an electric shock or described as shooting or stabbing; the pain is typically restricted to one or more divisions of the fifth cranial nerve (CN V) [1]. Since the term TN may encompass several disease entities that are related to one another, yet not exactly identical, a number of classification systems have been suggested and used: classical vs. secondary, typical vs. atypical, type I vs. II, idiopathic vs. iatrogenic, related to multiple sclerosis (MS) or herpes zoster, etc. [2]. To minimize confusion, this chapter will use the classification according to The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (ICHD-3) [3]. Diagnosis of TN must be based on the clinical history and physical examination, although subcategorization and differential diagnosis often require other imaging assessment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Jae Sung Park

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Kwan Park

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  1. Jae Sung Park
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  2. Kwan Park
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Correspondence to Kwan Park .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Kwan Park

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Kyung Rae Cho

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Park, J.S., Park, K. (2023). Overview of Trigeminal Neuralgia. In: Park, K., Cho, K.R. (eds) Trigeminal Neuralgia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9171-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9171-4_1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-9171-4

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