Magnetic resonance imaging of vascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia. Case report.

A case of trigeminal neuralgia is reported in which preoperative high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve. Surgery confirmed compression and indentation of the fifth nerve by a large branch of the superior cerebellar artery. Following microvascular decompression, the patient experienced no further pain. Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in the evaluation of trigeminal neuralgia to identify a subgroup of patients who could benefit most from decompression.