Trigeminal neuralgia with lacrimation or SUNCT syndrome?

An intimate relationship between trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome, based on similar clinical signs and symptoms and on cases demonstrating possible "transformation" from one entity to the other, has been widely accepted. We evaluated the presence of lacrimation in 22 consecutive cases that had been diagnosed as TN. Ipsilateral lacrimation was reported by 6 such cases (5M, 1F). These cases responded to antineuralgic therapy with concomitant resolution of lacrimation and were clinically very similar to TN. The differential diagnosis and the possibility of lacrimation in TN are discussed.     

1. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a common cause of facial pain. It has a significant impact on the quality of life and the socioeconomic functioning of the patient. The aim of this review is to provide recommendations for medical management of trigeminal neuralgia based on current evidence. Based upon the analyses of the literature combined with experience in pain management, symptoms, assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment possibilities of trigeminal neuralgia are described and discussed. Recommendations for pain management are given and are displayed in a clinical practice algorithm. Treatment should be multidisciplinary. Various treatment options and their risks should be discussed with the patient. The first treatment of choice is carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine. In younger patients, the first choice of invasive treatment is probably microvascular decompression. For elderly patients, radiofrequency treatment of Gasserian ganglion is recommended and the technique is described in detail.     

微血管减压术治疗原发性三叉神经痛手术体会

目的：探讨原发性三叉神经痛微血管减压的手术效果及其影响因素。方法：选择正规药物治疗无效的三叉神经痛患者行核磁共振检查,排除继发性病因引起三叉神经痛的患者,对30例原发性三叉神经痛患者行微血管减压术。结果：28例患者术后疼痛立即消失,1例患者症状明显缓解,1例无效,无死亡患者,有效率为97%,随访1年有1例复发。结论：术前核磁共振检查能否发现责任血管,对手术和术后效果影响大;但同时与术者的经验和显微操作熟练程度密切相关。     

Trigeminal Neuralgia During Sleep

▪ Abstract:   Pain paroxysms in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are sudden and extremely intense. Nonetheless, many clinicians who treat TN report that patients are rarely if ever awakened at night by pain attacks. If true, this observation is important as it implies the presence of a powerful sleep protective mechanism. We queried TN patients and their habitual sleep partners about painful awakenings and discovered that such awakenings are in fact quite common. As during the day, pain paroxysms during sleep are typically induced by natural stimuli at TN trigger points. Brief attacks sometimes occur without frankly awakening the patient, but they appear nonetheless to be painful. ▪     

A型肉毒毒素治疗三叉神经痛

目的:观察A型肉毒毒素治疗三叉神经痛(TN)的临床疗效。方法:选取57例TN患者,随机分为A、B 2组。A组28例患者口服卡马西平片治疗;B组29例在疼痛部位及板机点周围皮下注射肉毒素治疗。治疗后1,3及6个月时随访,行简式McGill疼痛问卷表(SF-MPQ)及生活质量评价量表(SF-36)评分,并观察不良反应。结果:治疗中脱失7例,A组3例,B组4例。与治疗前3个月SF-MPQ及SF-36平均分作为基础水平比较,治疗1,3及6个月后2组SF-MPQ评分明显下降,SF-36明显上升(P<0.01),B组表明更明显(P<0.05,P<0.01)。治疗过程中,A组出现不适患者多于B组。结论:A型肉毒毒素疼痛点皮下注射治疗TN发作作用高峰1～3个月,维持时间6个月,且临床疗效显著,不良反应轻微。     

Supraorbital neuralgia. On the clinical manifestations and a possible therapeutic approach

The clinical manifestations of supraorbital neuralgia are apparently only incompletely known. The lack of awareness of this head pain may possibly be due to its rarity and problems with making the diagnosis. In the present work, the long-term result of minor, decompressive surgery of the supraorbital nerve in five patients is reported. The immediate improvement was good and, after a mean observation time of more than 6 years, an improvement of 50% to 100% was observed (mean, circa 85%). In the two patients with the longest postoperative observation time, approximately 8 years, pain has not recurred.
The pain was severe, leading to suicidal thoughts in several patients. The long-term course was intermittent or continuous. The pain was generally unilateral, but was bilateral in one patient. Generally, there was lack of, or only minor benefit from drug treatment, including carbamazepine and indomethacin. There was clearly tenderness over the supraorbital nerve, especially at its outlet, and in some subjects occasionally, a slight local loss of sensation. Definite trigger zones were not present. Supraorbital nerve blockade generally provided instant and considerable pain relief. The persistence of protracted unilateral forehead/ocular pain, tenderness over the nerve, and repeated blockade effect strongly suggests the diagnosis.     

Trigeminal Neuralgia as the Sole Symptom of Pancreatic Cancer

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a condition characterized by brief electric shock‐like pains in the topography of the trigeminal nerve. The most common cause of this disorder is the compression of the trigeminal nerve root by tortuous or aberrant vessels. In this report, we describe a patient who presented due to paroxysmal and excruciating facial pain that was found to be secondary to pancreatic cancer.     

微血管减压术治疗三叉神经痛的疗效及其并发症的预防与处理

目的探讨微血管减压术治疗三叉神经痛的疗效及其并发症的预防与处理策略。方法采用微血管减压术治疗93例三叉神经痛患者,对其临床疗效及术后并发症等临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 93例中89例术后疼痛症状消失,有效率为95.70%。术后并发症的发生情况：皮下积液4例,脑脊液漏1例,听力下降3例,耳鸣3例,面神经功能障碍4例,手术无效4例,死亡1例。结论微血管减压术治疗三叉神经痛是一种十分成熟的技术,规范手术的各种操作和积极应用监测技术能够尽量避免各种并发症的发生,显著提高手术的安全性。     

Cardiac Arrest Caused by Trigeminal Neuralgia

A 67-year-old man with a 12-year history of trigeminal neuralgia experienced multiple fainting episodes preceded by right facial pain. One episode resulted in cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation. Pacemaker insertion prevented further episodes of syncope despite the occurrence of pain. The fainting episodes and cardiac arrest are believed to be unusual manifestations of trigeminal neuralgia.     

Trigeminal Neuralgia in Pregnancy: A Management Challenge

Pregnancy is known to aggravate pre‐existing chronic painful conditions. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), albeit a disease of the elderly, may afflict pregnant females, which can further complicate its management. Teratogenic effects of the commonly used drugs on the developing fetus limit pharmacological treatment. Moreover, safety of commonly performed interventional therapies is marred by their inherent fetomaternal effects and more importantly the risk for radiation effects on the fetus due to the use of fluoroscopy. This rare coexistence of TN in pregnancy has not been reported before. Here we present a case of TN in a young woman, whose pain was aggravated when she became pregnant, and she was treated successfully by conventional radiofrequency ablation of the Gasserian ganglion.     

脉冲射频治疗三叉神经痛时射频电压与疗效的关系

目的 探讨脉冲射频治疗三叉神经痛时射频电压与术后镇痛效果的关系.方法 选取脉冲射频治疗后效果欠佳的原发三叉神经痛患者22例(无效组)及同期随机选取脉冲射频效果满意的患者22例(有效组),比较两组患者术中射频电压、局部电阻、刺激电压等数据,并且比较两组术后并发症发生情况.结果 有效组射频电压明显高于无效组(P＜0.01),面部麻木患者明显多于无效组(P＜0.01).结论 脉冲射频电压高的患者治疗效果更好.     

后颅窝肿瘤引起的三叉神经痛11例分析

目的:报道11例后颅窝肿瘤引起的三叉神经痛病例,探讨相关的诊断、治疗上的问题。方法:回顾5年来经MRI确诊的住院病人,参考文献,总结诊治经验。结果:11例患者经手术治疗,三叉神经痛症状消失,无发生严重并发症。结论:对于症状不典型、发作时间长的三叉神经痛患者应尽早行MRI检查以便早期发现肿瘤,降低手术风险、提高肿瘤全切除率。     

The Medical Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia results from disturbances in the trigeminal root entry zone which generate repetitive action potentials. Drugs which relieve the pain of trigeminal neuralgia depressed these potentials. Anticonvulsants which exert this or related effects, and which have been demonstrated to be efficacious in trigeminal neuralgia, include carbamazepine, phenytoin, clonazepam, and valproic acid. Baclofen may act by facilitating segmental inhibition of the trigeminal complex. The mechanism of action of pimozide for treating trigeminal neuralgia is not known. Carbamazepine is suggested as the drug of first choice; baclofen or clonazepam could be added if carbamazepine monotherapy is ineffective. When these fail, monotherapy with phenytoin, pimozide, or valproic acid would be a reasonable next step.