TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA WITH LACRIMATION OR SUNCT SYNDROME

An intimate relationship between trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and short-l asting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival inje ction and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome, based on similar clinical signs an d symptoms and on cases demonstrating possible ''transformation'' from one entity to the other, has been widely accepted. We evaluated the p resence of lacrimation in 22 consecutive cases that had been diagnosed as TN. Ipsilateral lacrimation was reported by 6 such cases (5M, 1F). These cases responded to antineuralgic therapy with concomitant resol ution of lacrimation and were clinically very similar to TN. The diffe rential diagnosis and the possibility of lacrimation in TN are discuss ed.