Trigeminal neuralgia: indication for MRI

Forty-one patients with trigeminal symptoms affecting at least two divisions and variable involvement of other cranial nerves were examined with MRI. In 32 cases (78%) pathological findings occurred; 9 examinations (22%) were normal. Among 25 histologically verified cases only 1 was misdiagnosed. Thus accuracy and specificity suggest the use of MRI as a primary diagnostic tool in patients with this clinical picture.