Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - Report of three cases

The authors report on three patients suffering from coexistent trigeminal n euralgia (TGN) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease who, based on preoperative m agnetic resonance tomographic angiography findings, underwent microvascular decompression. All patients had demonstrable neural compression and all ex perienced immediate postoperative pain relief. Symptoms recurred in one pat ient and required a second procedure in the form of a neurotomy. Two patien ts suffered from bilateral TGN. When a patient with TGN suffers coexistent neurological disease and experie nces bilateral symptoms, preoperative imaging and subsequent decompressive surgery may avoid the unacceptable risk of morbidity associated with bilate ral ablative procedures.