Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Epidermoid Tumor in the Cerebellopontine Angle

ABSTRACT

The authors report two cases of trigeminal neuralgia caused by epidermoid tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. The one case showed that trigeminal nerve was displaced superiorly by the tumor and was adhesed to the superior cerebellar artery. The other case showed that tumor mass encircled the facial, acoustic nerves as well as trigeminal nerve entirely and after removal of the tumor petrosal vein was found at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. Interestingly these two cases were devoid of neurologic deficit. We tried microvascular decompression as well as removal of tumor and were satisfied with its result. We reviewed the literature and discussed these cases in point of mechanisms of trigeminal neuralgia.