Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by an Intraneural Spiral Trigeminocerebellar Artery: A Case Report

J Neurol Surg Rep. 2015 Jul;76(1):e59-61. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1543975. Epub 2015 May 13.

Abstract

The trigeminocerebellar artery (TCA) is a branch of the basilar artery that may have an intraneural course and may cause trigeminal neuralgia. We report a case of trigeminal neuralgia with right vertebral artery aneurysm caused by an intraneural TCA that compressed the trigeminal nerve in multiple places. We performed proximal trapping for the fusiform aneurysm with extra-intracranial bypass to preserve flow of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, followed by microvascular decompression that successfully changed the course of the TCA. This procedure provided relief from the neuralgia without direct bisection of the trigeminal nerve that may cause severe nerve injury. Reshaping of the course of the artery can achieve good pain relief.

Keywords: intraneural vessel; reshaping; trigeminal neuralgia; trigeminocerebellar artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports