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Familial Trigeminal Neuralgia: Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Smyth Paul,
Greenough Glen,
Stommel Elijah
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2003.03172.x
Subject(s) - trigeminal neuralgia , medicine , trigeminal nerve , etiology , neuralgia , dermatology , anesthesia , neuropathic pain , pathology
The paroxysmal facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia is usually idiopathic, but familial cases have been described. We describe a family with apparent autosomal dominant transmission of trigeminal neuralgia. Our cases and a review of the literature suggest that the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia may be vascular compression of the fifth cranial nerve. Autosomal dominant vascular and epileptic disorders are reviewed, and possible relationships to familial trigeminal neuralgia are considered.