We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
AAN-EFNS guidelines on trigeminal neuralgia management.
- Authors
Cruccu, G.; Gronseth, G.; Alksne, J.; Argoff, C.; Brainin, M.; Burchiel, K.; Nurmikko, T.; Zakrzewska, J. M.
- Abstract
Several issues regarding diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are still unsettled. The American Academy of Neurology and the European Federation of Neurological Societies launched a joint Task Force to prepare general guidelines for the management of this condition. After systematic review of the literature the Task Force came to a series of evidence-based recommendations. In patients with TN MRI may be considered to identify patients with structural causes. The presence of trigeminal sensory deficits, bilateral involvement, and abnormal trigeminal reflexes should be considered useful to disclose symptomatic TN, whereas younger age of onset, involvement of the first division, unresponsiveness to treatment and abnormal trigeminal evoked potentials are not useful in distinguishing symptomatic from classic TN. Carbamazepine (stronger evidence) or oxcarbazepine (better tolerability) should be offered as first-line treatment for pain control. For patients with TN refractory to medical therapy early surgical therapy may be considered. Gasserian ganglion percutaneous techniques, gamma knife and microvascular decompression may be considered. Microvascular decompression may be considered over other surgical techniques to provide the longest duration of pain freedom. The role of surgery versus pharmacotherapy in the management of TN in patients with multiple sclerosis remains uncertain.
- Subjects
TRIGEMINAL neuralgia; TRIGEMINAL nerve diseases; MAGNETIC resonance imaging; AMERICAN Academy of Neurology; ANTICONVULSANTS; SURGERY
- Publication
European Journal of Neurology, 2008, Vol 15, Issue 10, p1013
- ISSN
1351-5101
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02185.x