Sensitivity and specificity of MRA in the diagnosis of neurovascular compression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia

The published rates of operatively confirmed neurovascular compression as the cause for trigeminal neuralgia range from 10 % to nearly 100 %. High-definition magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in 27 consecutive patients (in 6 cases with 3D reconstructions) to show neurovascular compression preoperatively. The MRA findings were compared with the relationship between the Vth nerve and the surrounding vessels at surgery. In 23 patients MRA showed present neurovascular compression in accordance with surgical findings (18/27 in complete accordance of type and side of vessel, site and direction of compression). One woman had no neurovascular compression either on MRA or intraopera…