SYMPTOMATIC AND ESSENTIAL TRIGEMINAL NEUR ALGIAS

We present the principal differential characteristics of neuralgia of symptomatic and idiopathic trigeminus. Out of 39 consecutive patients with neuralgia of trigeminus evaluated clinically and with neuroimage study, we find recognizable pathology in 10 (3 arterio-venous malforma tions, 1 dolichoecstasia of basilar artery, 3 tumors, 3 multiple scler osis). Symptomatic neuralgia occurs in patients with lower average age and is accompanied by atypical symptoms or abnormal neurological sign s and is no different from idiopathy as a response to pain from medica l treatment. Painful affectation of the trigeminus requires the realiz ation of complementary explorations aiming to dismiss associated neuro logical pathology.