Can the neurovascular compression volume of the trigeminal nerve on magnetic resonance cisternography predict the success of local anesthetic block after initial treatment by the carbamazepine?

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2014 Jan;117(1):e15-21. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2012.03.029. Epub 2012 Aug 24.

Abstract

Objectives: Whether NVC volume on magnetic resonance (MR) cisternography might be related to the success of local anesthetic block by tetracaine (TNB) as an additional treatment after carbamazepine (CBZ) treatments in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) was evaluated.

Study design: Detectable NVC volumes were measured from MR cisternography in 65 patients with TN treated by TNB after CBZ treatments. The correlation between the success of TNB and the NVC volume or the improvement in pain by CBZ was evaluated retrospectively.

Results: A significant difference was found between the improvement in pain by CBZ and the success of TNB, but not between NVC volume on MR cisternography and the success of TNB.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that the success of CBZ as initial treatment, but not NVC volume on MR cisternography, may be a significant predictor of the success of TNB as additional therapy in patients with TN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage*
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage*
  • Carbamazepine / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Block / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tetracaine / administration & dosage*
  • Trigeminal Nerve / blood supply*
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Tetracaine
  • Carbamazepine