Li Shuo, Liao Chenlong, Qian Meiqiong, Yang Xiaosheng, Zhang Wenchuan
Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Department of Imaging, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Front Neurol. 2022 Oct 11;13:1013216. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1013216. eCollection 2022.
The etiology of primary trigeminal neuralgia remains unclear and is worthy of further study; In this study, the morphometric characteristics of ovale foramina between various groups were compared and analyzed to explore the novel cause of primary trigeminal neuralgia.
High-resolution three-dimensional reconstruction images from head computed tomography of 109 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia affecting the third branch of the trigeminal nerve and 46 healthy controls were retrospectively reviewed. Among the 109 primary trigeminal neuralgia patients, 79 patients with apparent neurovascular compression (not simply contact) demonstrated on MRI or during surgery were divided into the classical trigeminal neuralgia group and 30 patients with MRI showing no significant abnormalities were divided into idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia group. The morphometric parameters including the area, width and length of ovale foramina were examined through the use of radiologic methods.
In this study, the average minimum area, width and length of 79 ovale foramina on the affected and unaffected sides in the classical trigeminal neuralgia group were 21.83 ± 8.45, 21.94 ± 7.93 mm, 2.32 ± 0.91, 2.58 ± 0.81, 5.32 ± 1.29, and 5.26 ± 1.21 mm, respectively. No significant difference in these parameters was observed ( > 0.05). However, in the idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia group, the average minimum area, width and length of 30 ovale foramina were 21.33 ± 8.21, 22.85 ± 8.36 mm, 2.25 ± 0.90, 2.79 ± 0.96, 5.20 ± 1.27, and 5.28 ± 1.19 mm, respectively. The width on the symptomatic side was significantly smaller ( = 0.03) than that on the asymptomatic side. No significant difference in area ( = 0.48) or length ( = 0.79) was observed. In addition, when compared with the healthy control group, the area and width of ovale foramina on the symptomatic side in both groups were significantly smaller. No significant difference in length was observed.
By comparing and analyzing the statistical data, it can be inferred that a narrow foramen ovale is associated with primary trigeminal neuralgia, as well as its recurrence after microvascular decompression.
原发性三叉神经痛的病因尚不清楚，值得进一步研究；本研究通过比较分析不同组卵圆孔的形态学特征，以探寻原发性三叉神经痛的新病因。
回顾性分析109例原发性三叉神经痛累及三叉神经第三支患者及46例健康对照者的头部计算机断层扫描高分辨率三维重建图像。109例原发性三叉神经痛患者中，79例在MRI或手术中显示有明显神经血管压迫（非单纯接触）的患者被分为经典三叉神经痛组，30例MRI显示无明显异常的患者被分为特发性三叉神经痛组。通过放射学方法检测卵圆孔的形态学参数，包括面积、宽度和长度。
本研究中，经典三叉神经痛组79个卵圆孔患侧和健侧的平均最小面积、宽度和长度分别为21.83±8.45、21.94±7.93mm，2.32±0.91、2.58±0.81，5.32±1.29和5.26±1.21mm。这些参数差异无统计学意义（>0.05）。然而，在特发性三叉神经痛组，30个卵圆孔的平均最小面积、宽度和长度分别为21.33±8.21、22.85±8.36mm，2.25±0.90、2.79±0.96，5.20±1.27和5.28±1.19mm。患侧宽度显著小于健侧（=0.03）。面积（=0.48）和长度（=0.79）差异无统计学意义。此外，与健康对照组相比，两组患侧卵圆孔的面积和宽度均显著减小。长度差异无统计学意义。
通过对统计数据的比较分析，可以推断卵圆孔狭窄与原发性三叉神经痛及其微血管减压术后复发有关。
