The study and diagnostic value of MRI sequences in patients with trigeminal neuralgia / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the capacity and diagnostic value of various MRI seguences in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.Methods MR images of 60 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were analyzed retrospectively.The sensitivity,specificity and diagnostic value of various MRI sequences were evaluated comparing with clinical data and operation results.All patients were scanned with conventional sequences including SE-T1WI,T2WI,FLAIR of head.Among them,9 cases were injected with contrast agent,49 cases were scanned with 3D-TOF and 3D-TSE sequences on cerebellopontine angle additinally.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the 3D-TOF and 3D-TSE sequences were analyzed by using the x2 test.Results Six cases with tumor,3 cases with radiculitis and meningitis,1 case with multiple sclerosis and 1 case with pons infarction were diagnosed by conventional MR sequences.MRI of 49 cases with 3D-TOF and 3D-TSE showed neurovascular compress proved by operation.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of 3D-TOF and 3D-TSE were 95.3％ (41/43)vs.95.6％ (43/45),66.7％ (4/6)vs.50.0％(2/4) and 91.8％ (45/49)vs.91.8％ (45/49),and no significantly difference was found between the two sequences (x2 =0.13,0.19 and 0.17,P ＞0.5).ConclusionsMRI plays an important role in displaying the causes and diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia.The conventional head MR sequences should be recommended for diagnosis of secondary TN caused by tumor and inflammation et al,and further 3D-TOF and 3D-TSE with high sensitivity and accuracy should be applied in patients with primary TN to display the neurovascular relationship.