Trigeminal Neuralgia with respect– Electrophysiological and MagneticResonance Image

Abstract

With more and more advances in the field of electrophysiological studies and techniques, with improvised and advanced neuroimaging techniques, the diagnostic accuracy has increased over the years. Although satisfactory treatment of this condition is still to come, pharmacotheurapcitics and drug trails are ongoing for the search of novel drugs for better control of symptoms. In the last few decades, surgery either external or percutanous procedures has provided a number of treatment options in terms of cost effectiveness, minimal invasiveness and morbidity. Maxillary and mandibular divisions were more frequently involved with higher incidence of left side involvement. 45.1% reported definite triggering factor/factors with tactile stimulus and cold face wash being the common triggering factors. 83.8% complained symptoms as electric shock like sensation followed by intense stabbing / pricking and burning pain in 70.9% and 67.0% respectively. Latencies of blink reflex were absent or prolonged in 41.9% of patients. 80% of patients with abnormal blink reflex had
abnormalities in MRI too which was statistically significant (P=0.007). Severity of pain did not correlate with either MRI or EPS (P>0.05)