Sphenopalatine ganglion block - a new treatment for burning mouth syndrome?: a case report

Abstract Burning mouth syndrome is a poorly understood entity for which current treatment modalities fail to provide effective relieve. Branches of the maxillary and mandibular nerves are responsible for the innervation of the affected area. These are also the nerves involved in trigeminal neuralgia, an entity where sphenopalatine block has proved to be effective. We present a case of a patient with burning mouth syndrome in whom a bilateral sphenopalatine ganglion block was successfully performed for pain treatment. It is an easy and safe technique that can be a valuable treatment option for these patients, although more studies are needed.

Trigeminal neuralgia after corneal transplantation - a case report / Neuralgia do trigêmeo pós-transplante de córnea - relato de caso

ABSTRACT Description of a patient with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy submitted to a corneal transplant, performed by Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty, which evolved with sudden, paroxysmal pain in the frontotemporal region, postoperatively. Due to the ophthalmologic picture of the patient, the attending physician believed in possible rejection of the graft, neglecting the complaint of pain. Even after a successful second transplant, performed due to primary failure, disabling pain persisted and the physician did not manage it. After years of investigation, consulting with several specialists, it was concluded the patient presented trigeminal neuralgia that had not been treated since the surgical procedure. In addition, it led to several psychosocial consequences. Therefore, it is essential to be aware trigeminal neuralgia is a possible outcome of corneal transplantation, and its symptoms should not be neglected by the attending physician, thus contributing to better management for transplanted patients.

RESUMO Descrição do relato de caso de uma paciente com distrofia endotelial de Fuchs submetida a transplante de córnea, realizado pela técnica DMEK, que evoluiu com quadro de dor súbita, paroxística, em região frontotemporal, no pós-operatório. Devido ao quadro oftalmológico da paciente, o médico assistente acreditava em possível rejeição do enxerto, negligenciando a dor. Mesmo após sucesso do segundo transplante, realizado devido à falência primária, as dores incapacitantes persistiam, e nenhuma conduta, por parte do médico, foi realizada. Após anos de investigação, mediante consultas com diversos especialistas, concluiu-se que a paciente apresentava um quadro de neuralgia do nervo trigêmeo que não tinha sido tratada desde a realização do procedimento cirúrgico. Além disso, apresentava uma série de consequências psicossociais. Portanto, torna-se imprescindível entender que a neuralgia do nervo trigêmeo é um possível desfecho do transplante de córnea, e seus sintomas não devem ser negligenciados por parte do médico assistente, contribuindo para melhores condutas para os pacientes transplantados.

Trigeminal neuralgia: literature review

The trigeminal nerve, fifth equal of cranial nerves, a mixed nerve is considered by possessing motor and sensitive components. The sensitive portion takes to the Nervous System Central somesthesics information from the skin and mucous membrane of great area of the face, being responsible also for a neural disease, known as the Trigeminal Neuralgia. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the main characteristics of Trigeminal Neuralgia, the relevant aspects for the diagnosis and treatment options for this pathology. This neuralgia is characterized by hard pains and sudden, similar to electric discharges, with duration between a few seconds to two minutes, in the trigeminal nerve sensorial distribution. The pain is unchained by light touches in specific points in the skin of the face or for movements of the facial muscles, it can be caused by traumatic sequels or physiologic processes degenerative associate the vascular compression. Prevails in the senior population, frequently in the woman. In a unilateral way it attacks more the maxillary and mandibular divisions, rarely happens in a simultaneous way in the three branches of trigeminal nerve three branches.

Nevralgia do trigêmeo associada à hanseníase / Hanseniase associated Trigeminal Nevralgia

A hanseníase é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, que além de alterações dermatológicas, possui manifestações neurológicas. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 66 anos, que apresentou nevralgia do trigêmeo após ter apresentado quadro de hanseníase.

Hansen's disease is an infectious disease that presents with skin changes, as well as neurological features. We report a case of a 66 years man, who presented with trigeminal neuralgia after developing Hansen's disease.

Aspectos anatômicos e patológicos da neuralgia do trigêmeo: uma revisão da literatura para estudantes e profissionais da saúde / Anatomic and pathologic aspects of the trigeminal neuralgia: a literature review for students and health professionals

O nervo trigêmeo é considerado um nervo misto, com fibras aferentes (sensitivas) e eferentes(motoras). As fibras sensitivas são responsáveis por um quadro neurológico, conhecido como neuralgia do trigêmeo. O objetivo deste trabalho é relacionar aspectos anatômicos do nervo trigêmeo com os sinais e sintomas da neuralgia, esclarecendo sua incidência, etiologia e terapêutica, além de relatar casos incomuns dessa doença. Foi realizada uma ampla revisão da literatura e identificadas as características da neuralgia do nervo trigêmeo, os casos mais incidentes, levando em consideração idade e sexo do paciente, além da sua causa e tratamento indicado. A neuralgia trigeminal é caracterizada por dores intensas e repentinas, semelhantes a choques elétricos, sendo no início confinadas a uma divisão, embora ela possa se irradiar sobre os ramos das outras divisões do nervo trigêmeo. Essas dores são desencadeadas por leves toques em pontos específicos na pele da face. Geralmente é unilateral e mais freqüente nas mulheres, a partir da quarta década de vida. A neuralgia acomete com mais freqüência o nervo mandibular, em seguida o nervo maxilar e menos comum no ramo oftálmico. Uma condição muito rara é o acometimento simultâneo dos três ramos do nervo trigêmeo. A causa, geralmentedesconhecida, também pode estar relacionada com variações anatômicas, tanto do próprio nervo quanto de estruturas adjacentes, ou neoplasias. O tratamento é complexo devido à dificuldade de identificação dos mecanismos desencadeantes. Em conclusão, o conhecimento da anatomia do nervo trigêmeo, associado à anamnese do paciente, sinais e sintomas da doença, é indispensável para o seu diagnóstico diferencial e terapêutica adequada.

The trigeminal nerve has afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) fibers, however the sensory ones are responsible for a disorder called trigeminal neuralgia. The purposed of this study is to correlate the anatomical aspects of the trigeminal nerve with the neuralgia’s signs and symptoms, explaining its incidence, etiology and therapeutic management, besides relating unusual cases of this disease. It was performed a wide revision of the literature and it was identified the characteristics of the trigeminal neuralgia, regarding age and sex of the patient, besides its cause andappropriate treatment. The trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by hard and sudden pains, similar to electric discharges, being in the beginning confined to a branch, although it can irradiate to along the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve. These pains are begun by a quick touch in specific point in the skin of face. Generally is unilateral and more prevalent inthe woman, starting from the fourth decade of life. The neuralgia attacks more frequently the mandibular nerve, soon afterwards the maxillary and less common the ophthalmic branch. A very rare condition is the simultaneous attack of the three trigeminal nerve branches. The cause is always unknown, however it can be related for anatomical variations, as much the own nerve as the adjacent structures, even neoplasias. Treatment is complex due to the difficulty of identification of the carrying mechanisms. In conclusion, the knowledge of the trigeminal nerve anatomy associated to the patient’sanamnesis, signs and symptoms of the pathology, is indispensable to its differential diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic management.

Persistent trigeminal artery: angio-tomography and angio-magnetic resonance finding / Artéria trigeminal persistente: achado na angio-tomografia e angio-ressonância magnética

The trigeminal artery (TA) is the most common embryonic carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis to persist into adulthood. It typically extends from the internal carotid artery to the basilar artery. Persistent primitive arteries are usually found incidentally, but are often associated with vascular malformation, cerebral aneurysm and, in case of TA, with trigeminal neuralgia. We present one patient with TA as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia and in other three as an incidental finding, on TC and MR angiograms.

Artéria trigeminal (AT) é a anastomose carótido-vertebrobasilar mais comum a persistir na vida adulta. Tipicamente estende-se da artéria carótida interna até a artéria basilar. Artérias primitivas persistentes são usualmente um achado incidental, mas freqüentemente estão associadas a malformações vasculares, aneurismas e, no caso da AT, a neuralgia do trigêmio. Apresentamos um paciente com AT como causa de neuralgia do trigêmio e em outros três como um achado incidental, em angiogramas por tomomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting with cavernous sinus involvement, trigeminal neuralgia and middle ear effusion

We reported and analyzed an unusual case of NPC [Nasopharyngeal carcinoma] where the patient had initial clinical features of cavernous sinus involvement followed by trigeminal neuralgia and middle ear dysfunction. In the present case, the initial involvement of the cavernous sinus resulted in the left sided third nerve involvement. Later on, the extension of the tumor in and around the trigeminal ganglion resulted in facial pain. Up to that point in time, a possibility of cavernous sinus lesion was considered and this caused a delay in the diagnosis. In accordance with the literature, this case illustrates that the tumor is difficult to diagnose during the early stages for multiple reasons, including: the non-specificity of the initial symptoms and the difficulty of examining the postnasal space

Neuralgia del trigémino secundaria a un meningioma en el ligamento petroclinoideo: reporte de un caso / Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to meningioma in the petroclinoid ligament: a case report

La neuralgia del trigémino es una patología que se caracteriza por un dolor paroxístico ante estímulos inocuos, principalmente tactiles y que afecta a una de las divisiones del nervio trigémino. En este artículo se presenta un caso de neuralgia secundaria a la compresión del ganglio trigeminal, producto de un meningioma del ligamento petroclinoideo y una breve revisión de la literatura.

The trigeminal neuralgia is a pathology that is characterized by a paroxictic pain before innocuous stimuli, mainly tactile and that it affects one of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve. In this article we present a case of secondary trigeminal neuralgia, due to meningioma of the petroclinoid ligament and a brief revision of the literature.

Trigeminal sensory neuropathy and facial contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal sensory neuropathy (TSN) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders manifesting as facial numbness. OBJECTIVE: We report the case of a patient who had TSN associated with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp. METHOD/RESULTS: A 21-year-old female patient developed left hemifacial contact dermatitis after exposure to the anthurium plant. The patient had paresthesias and pain in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Eight days after its onset the dermatitis resolved, but numbness developed in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Cranial CT scan and MRI, as well as CSF and extensive work-up exams, were normal. After one month the symptoms disappeared completely. CONCLUSION: Anthurium sp, an indoor ornamental plant that contains calcium oxalate crystals, and can causes contact dermatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report associating TSN with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp.

INTRODUÇÃO: A neuropatia trigeminal sensitiva (NTS) representa um grupo heterogêneo de doenças, cuja manifestação clínica é a presença de dormência na região facial. OBJETIVO: Relatamos o caso de paciente que apresenta NTS associada com dermatite de contato (DC) devido à planta Anthurium sp. MÉTODO/RESULTADOS: Uma paciente com 21 anos desenvolveu DC na região hemi-facial esquerda, após exposição à planta Anthurium sp. Após a resolução do quadro de dermatite, a referida paciente apresentou dormência e parestesias no território do segundo e terceiro ramos do nervo trigêmeo esquerdo. Um mês após o início do quadro houve resolução completa dos sintomas. CONCLUSÃO: O Anthurium é uma planta ornamental que contém cristas de oxalato de cálcio, que podem causar DC. Para o nosso conhecimento este é o primeiro relato associando NTS e dermatite de contato devido à exposição ao Anthurium sp.

Prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia in patients with multiple sclerosis referrals to Iranian society of multiple sclerosis [2005]

Trigeminal neuralgia [TN] is one of the symptoms of M.S diseases which is seen in 1.9% of affected population. In 0.3% of the cases it can be the first symptom of the disease. Due to no report available in Iran, the present study was done to determine the prevalence of TN in MS patients. In this descriptive and case series study, 125 patients with MS were randomly selected from the Iranian Society of M.S patients. The patients were interviewed and the data regarding the age of the disease occurrence, the first sign of the illness, when the illness diagnosed and who diagnosed it, and finally the maxillofacial manifestations of the disease were collected and registered in related questionnaire. Supplemental information was also derived from the patient's files. Chi-square test was used for data analysis. Of the studied patients, 72 were women and 53 men. The mean age of disease onset was 26.5 years old. The most common symptom of the disease was optical disturbances [36%]. Regarding the manifestations of the maxillofacial area, 11.2% of the patients had experienced TN, 40.8% trigeminal neuropathy and 20% facial palsy. The presence of TN was bilateral in 50% of the patients and in 2 patients [1.6%] was the first symptom of the illness. The maxillary and mandibular branches of trigeminal nerve were the most affected. Statistical analysis showed a significant relation between age and sex with TN. TN was more common among the woman with multiple sclerosis [p=0.002] and the mean age was lower in these patients [p=0.000]. The dentists should be familiar with this kind of facial pain to avoid unnecessary treatments. Also in encountering a young patient with TN, they should mind MS and if TN occurs as the first manifestation of disease, to promote the right time of treatment

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia: the role of microvascular decompression. Case report

O objetivo desse estudo é relatar um caso de neuralgia trigeminal causado por dolicoectasia vertebrobasilar tratado com descompressão microvascular. Um homem (63 anos) consultou por neuralgia trigeminal recorrente na hemiface esquerda (territórios V2 e V3). A angiotomografia cerebral revelou compressão mecânica do nervo trigêmio esquerdo devido à dolicoectasia vertebrobasilar. O paciente foi submetido à craniotomia suboccipital esquerda. Introduziu-se Teflon® na área de conflito neurovascular, obtendo-se uma descompressão satisfatória. O paciente apresentou remissão da dor imediatamente. A dolicoectasia vertebrobasilar é uma causa rara de neuralgia trigeminal e uma excelente evolução pode ser alcançada com a descompressão microvascular.

Raeder's syndrome after embolization of a giant intracavernous carotid artery aneurysm: pathophysiological considerations

Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 47 anos submetida a obliteração endovascular de um aneurisma gigante de carótida interna cavernosa à esquerda, no qual o balão distal foi inflado, tal como usual, dentro do segmento cavernoso da artéria carótida interna, diferente do proximal, o qual foi inflado dentro do canal carotídeo devido a problemas técnicos. Conseqüentemente, um quadro clínico de neuralgia paratrigeminal de Raeder se instalou. Este é o primeiro relato na literatura com estas características. Uma revisão das vias anatômicas e maiores considerações a respeito de possíveis mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos são apresentados.

Primary melanoma of Meckel's cave: case report

Apresentamos um caso de neuralgia do trigêmeo com investigação radiológica de ressonância magnética (RM) e tomografia computadorizada apresentando resultado normal. A dor não apresentou alívio com carbamazepina, sendo indicado descompressão microvascular do trigêmio. Passados dois meses, o paciente queixava-se de dor com intensidade similar à do pré-operatório. Nova RM mostrou lesão expansiva no cavo de Meckel, a qual foi tratada cirurgicamente por abordagem extra-dural. O exame anatomopatológico foi compatível com melanoma primário. O seguimento radiológico, após seis meses da cirurgia, não apresentou anormalidades.

Familial trigeminal neuralgia-report of two cases

Familial trigeminal neuralgia is a rare condition with only 125 cases described until now. Two sisters with trigeminal neuralgia are presented, focusing on the clinical details with the surgical findings, and their relationship to the characteristics of the familial neuralgia group. The surgical findings in both cases are discussed. The scope of the current theories for the pathology responsible for the condition, the differences between familial and the general trigeminal neuralgia group and the future possibilities for clarifying the cause of these differences are also highlighted