M. De Matas et al., Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - Report of three cases, J NEUROSURG, 92(4), 2000, pp. 715-717
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.