World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Surgical resolution of trigeminal neuralgia due to intra-axial compression by pontine cavernous angioma.
Trigeminal neuralgia is usually caused by microvascular conflict with the fifth cranial nerve in the pontocerebellar angle. Rarely is it secondary to other extra-axial or intra-axial lesions. Few cases of trigeminal neuralgia due to cavernous angiomas have been reported in the literature. This is the first report of surgical decompression of the intra-axial trigeminal nerve tract from a deep pontine cavernous angioma. ⋯ Trigeminal neuralgia can occur occasionally secondary to the compressive effect of a pontine cavernous angioma. In this patient surgical removal of the cavernous angioma can be considered a successful and relatively safe treatment.