[The trigeminus nerve in neuro-otological diagnosis (author's transl)].

The Trigeminus nerve is represented by a large area in brainstem and therefore we often find symptoms of this nerve, if there are dysfunctions in this region. Especially when we suspect disorders of the central part of the vestibular or auditory systems the Trigeminus can give distinct signs. Besides other qualities (tactile, nociceptive) the sensitivity for warmth can be measured exactly with the thermic-impulse-test (TITT). The importance of this test is shown in some cases (tumor of the cerebello-pontine angle, tumors in the brainstem and multiple sclerosis). On the other hand in lesons of the facial part of the skull (traumatic, tumoral and postoperative) the TITT gives reliable signs and seems to be more sensitive than other tests of Trigeminus.