Trigeminal neuralgia caused by contralateral cerebellopontine angle meningioma - case report

Summary:

A large meningioma located in the cerebellopontine angle was an unusual cause for contralateral trigeminal neuralgia. The mass effect displaced the basilar artery affecting the contralateral trigeminal nerve in vicinity of the brain stem. After radical microsurgical removal ot the tumour, the trigeminal neuralgia completely disappeared.

Zusammenfassung:

Ein großes, im Keinhirnbrückenwinkel gelegenes Meningeom war die seltene Ursache für eine kontralaterale Trigeminusneuralgie. Die Raumforderung führte zu einer Ver-lagerung der Arteria basilaris und somit zur Kompression des kontralateral gelegenen Nervus trigeminus im Bereich des Hirnstammes. Nach radikaler Tumorexstirpation sistierte die Neuralgie.

Key words:

Basilar artery - trigeminus nerve compression - microvasculuar decompression

Schlüsselwörter:

Arteria basilaris - Nervus trigeminus-Kompression - mikrovaskuläre Dekompression

References

• 1 Babu R, Murali R. Arachnoid cyst of the cerebellopontine angle manifesting as contralateral trigeminal neuralgia: case report.  Neurosurgery. 1991;  28 886-887
• 2 Bong A R, Kim T S, Kim K G, Leem W. Hemifacial spasm caused by contralateral cerebellopontine angle meningeoma: case report.  Neurosurgery. 1995;  36 393-395
• 3 Carella A, Garuso G, Lamberti P. Hemifacial spasm due to elongation of distal segment of the vertebral artery: report of two cases.  Neuroradiology. 1973;  6 233-236
• 4 Florensa R, Llovet J, Pou A, Galito E, Vilato J, Colet S. Contralateral trigeminal neuralgia as a false localizing sign in intracranial tumours.  Neurosurgery. 1987;  20 1-3
• 5 Gardner W J. Concerning the mecanism of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.  J Neurosurg. 1962;  19 947-958
• 6 Gardner W J. Trigeminal neuralgia.  Clin Neurosurg. 1968;  15 1-56
• 7 Haddad F S, Taha J M. An unusual cause for trigeminal neuralgia: contralateral meningioma of the posterior fossa.  Neurosurgery. 1990;  26 1033-1038
• 8 Janetta P J. Arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.  J Neurosurg. 1967;  26 159-162
• 9 Janetta P J. Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by microoperative decompression. In: Youmans JR (ed) Neurological Surgery WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1982 2 6: 3589-3603
• 10 Janetta P J, Bissonnette D J. Management of the failed patient with trigeminal neuralgia.  Clin Neurosurg. 1985;  32 334-347
• 11 Koenig M, Kalyan-Raman K, Sureka O N. Contralateral tri geminal nerve dysfunction as a false localizing sign in acoustic neuroma: a clinical and electrophysical study.  Neurosurgery. 1984;  14 335-337
• 12 Kondo A, Ishikawa J, Konishi T, Yamasaki S. Mechanisms of vascular compression of cranial nerves: role of changes of vertebrobasilar vasculatures.  Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 1981;  21 287-294
• 13 Nielsen V K. Pathophysiology of hemifacial spasm: ephaptic transmission and ectopic excitation.  Neurology. 1984;  34 418-426
• 14 Niijuma H, Ikeda S, Ohyama H. Trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm caused by compression of tortuous vertebrobasila system: a case report.  Neuro Surg. 1981;  9 1167-1170
• 15 Nishi T, Matsukato Y, Nagahiro S, Hukushima M, Koga K. Hemifacial spasm caused by contralateral acoustic neuroma: case report.  Neurology. 1987;  37 339-342
• 16 Snow R B, Fraser R AR. Cerebellopontine angle tumor causing contralateral trigeminal neuralgia: a case report.  Neuro Surgery. 1987;  21 84-86
• 17 Weisenburg T H. Cerebellopontine tumour diagnosed for six years as tics douloureux. The symptoms of irritation of the ninth and twelfth cranial nerve.  JAMA. 1910;  54 1600-1604
• 18 Wilkins R H. Hemifacial spasm: a review.  Surg Neurol. 1991;  36 251-277