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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 2 | Page : 76-78 |
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Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to basilar impression: A case report
Maurus Marques de Almeida Holanda1, Normando Guedes Pereira Neto2, Gustavo de Moura Peixoto2, Rayan Haquim Pinheiro Santos2
1 Neurosurgeon, Associate Professor of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
2 Medical Students, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
| Date of Web Publication | 29-Apr-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Maurus Marques de Almeida Holanda
Rua Borja Peregrino, 191, João Pessoa, Paraíba
Brazil
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-8237.156062
 Abstract | | |
We report a rare case of trigeminal neuralgia. A 23-year-old woman with a history of 1 year of typical trigeminal neuralgia manifested the characteristics of basilar impression. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated basilar impression, deformity of the posterior fossa with asymmetry of petrous bone, and compression of medulla oblongata in the topography of the odontoid apophysis. The operation was performed through a suboccipital craniectomy. The neuralgia disappeared after surgery and remains completely resolved until today. This is the second reported case of trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with basilar impression in Brazil. Keywords: Basilar impression, subocciptal decompression, trigeminal neuralgia
How to cite this article:
de Almeida Holanda MM, Pereira Neto NG, de Moura Peixoto G, Pinheiro Santos RH. Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to basilar impression: A case report. J Craniovert Jun Spine 2015;6:76-8 |
How to cite this URL:
de Almeida Holanda MM, Pereira Neto NG, de Moura Peixoto G, Pinheiro Santos RH. Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to basilar impression: A case report. J Craniovert Jun Spine [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Jun 4];6:76-8. Available from: https://www.jcvjs.com/text.asp?2015/6/2/76/156062 |
| Introduction | |  |
Vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve in the cerebellopontine angle is generally accepted as the primary source causing trigeminal neuralgia (TN). [1] In spite of being the most common cause, some data demonstrated that craniocervical abnormalities, like basilar impression and platybasia, affect the bony walls of the posterior fossa, and even Chiari malformation More Details may play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular abnormalities causing TN. [2],[3],[4],[5] Our research, which was carried out from 1995 to 2014, presents 60 cases of basilar impression, enabling us to observe only one case (1,7%) with TN. The deformity of the skull base was the noteworthy aspect that influenced the development of the trigeminal neuralgia resulting in the publication of the present case.
| Case Report | | |
A 23-year-old woman with a history of 1 year of typical trigeminal neuralgia with left-sided lancinating facial pain in the V2 distribution of the trigeminal nerve. The pain was triggered by certain movements, tactile stimulation, or a cold shower. She also complained of neck pain and facial numbness. Physical examination findings are shown in [Figure 1]. ([Figure 1] Low-set hairline and brevicollis [shortened neck] presenting as clinical features of craniocervical junction malformations). | Figure 1: Low-set hairline and brevicollis (shortened neck) presenting as clinical features of craniocervical junction malformations
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The neurologic exam shows decreased left corneal reflex, nystagmus, hyperreflexia, and presence of bilateral Hoffmann's sign. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated basilar impression. ([Figure 2] Preoperative sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] showing basilar impression with compression of pons by the tip in the topography of the odontoid apophysis located 12 mm above the Chamberline line and deformity of the posterior fossa with asymmetry of petrous bone). | Figure 2: Preoperative sagittal T2-weighted MRI showing basilar impression with compression of pons by the tip in the topography of the odontoid apophysis located 12 mm above the Chamberline line and deformity of the posterior fossa with asymmetry of petrous bone
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The operation was performed through a osteodural decompression with large inferior suboccipital craniectomy. After dural opening shaped in "Y," the arachnoid adhesions between the cerebellar tonsils, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord were dissected. A large opening of the fourth ventricle was obtained and dura was grafted with bovine pericardium. The neuralgia disappeared after surgery and remains completely resolved 1 year later.
| Discussion | | |
The term platybasia, coined by Virchow, in 1857, describes an abnormal flattening of the skull base, a defect which he attributed to abnormal bone development, is thought to be a trivial bone deformity and usually has no neurological consequences. [6],[7] Basilar impression, another abnormality termed by Virchow, was occasionally seen in association with platybasia. This shows upward displacement of the basilar and condylar portions of the occipital bone in association with flattening of the skull base. This may cause narrowing of the posterior fossa and may compress its contents, like neurovascular structures, resulting in many kinds of neurological symptoms. [3],[6]
Basilar impression is usually due to congenital developmental anomalies, but generalized bone diseases (Paget's disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, rheumatoid arthirtis, etc.) can also be its primary cause. [6] Except for vascular loops, a large number of posterior fossa pathologies have been reported in association with TN.
Various neurological deficits have been reported in patients with skull base deformity like basilar impression and Chiari malformation. [2],[4],[6] These are commonly associated with a clinical picture of pain, headache (characteristically located in the neck and occipital region), dizziness, loss of thermal sensitivity, and changes in strength in the limbs due to the involvement of the anatomical structures that are present in the occipitocervical region, highlighting the lower cranial nerves, the cerebellum, and the major ascending and descending pathways. Among these nerves, the trigeminal nerve is commonly involved. [2],[4],[5],[8],[9] Sensory symptoms of the trigeminal nerve were reported in 30-50% of patients with basilar impression [2] but incidence of TN was less than 1% in 200 reported cases of basilar impression and other occipitocervical malformations in the cases of Obrador et al., [5] and 0.7% in 139 cases of basilar impression operated on the da Silva and Silvas casuistry. [3],[9] The same author reported a 46-year-old man with a history of TN associated with skull base deformity, and attributed the TN was secondary to asymmetry of the petrous bone. [3] There is also a single report of TN and ipsilateral hemifacial spasm secondary to Chiari's I malformation with hydrocephalus. [10]
Since the introduction of MRI imaging, the reference landmarks used to measure and evaluate the structures of the posterior fossa became more clearly identifiable and consistent.
During our surgery, we found that the posterior fossa was extremely narrow; the trigeminal nerve was compressed and stretched by the deformity of the posterior fossa with asymmetry of petrous bone and compression of medulla oblongata in the topography of the odontoid apophysis.
Rosetti et al., hypothesized that the TN in craniovertebral junction malformations could be attributable to a compression of the trigeminal nucleus, explaining both the pain and the regression after surgery [8] , while others [11],[12],[13] believe that trigeminal nerve involvement is related to the compression of the nerve root entry zone. Other hypothesis for explaining TN, such as modifications in vertebrobasilar vascularization causing microischemic disorder of extra-axial nerves [4] or demyelinating and remyelinating of nerve fibers [12] could not explain the immediate response to surgical treatment.
Basilar impression and Chiari malformation have been found to be associated with TN in only two cases reported in the Northeast of Brazil, and another four cases reported by Hayes et al., Reilly et al., Hajioff et al., and Goel. [6],[13],[14],[15] It is important to be considered as a rare cause of TN that responds to surgical therapy in patients who are refractory to medical treatment and present with other symptoms. Suboccipital decompression leads to resolution of pain, but if the patient has only typical TN, without other symptoms, microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve in the cerebellopontine angle is generally indicated.
| Acknowledgements | | |
The authors would like thank Dr. José Alberto Gonçalves da Silva (in memorian) for his invaluable contributions about craniocervical anomalies.
| References | | |
| 1. | Jannetta PJ, McLaughlin MR, Casey KF. Technique of microvascular decompression. Technical note. Neurosurg Focus 2005;18:E5.  |
| 2. | Caetano de Barros M, Farias W, Ataíde L, Lins S. Basilar impression and Arnold - Chiari malformation. A study of 66 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1968;31:596-605. |
| 3. | da Silva JA, da Silva EB. Basilar impression as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia: Report of a case. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1982;40:165-9. |
| 4. | Papanastassiou AM, Schwartz RB, Friedlander RM. Chiari I malformation as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia: Case report. Neurosurgery 2008;63:E614-5. |
| 5. | Obrador S, Queimadelos VG, Soto M. Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to asymmetry of the petrous bone. Case report. J Neurosurg 1970;33:596-8. |
| 6. | Hayes M, Parker G, Ell J, Sillence D. Basilar impression complicating osteogenesis imperfecta type IV: The clinical and neuroradiological findings in four cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1999;66:357-64. |
| 7. | Menezes AH. Developmental abnormalities of the craniovertebral junction. In: Winn HR, editor. 6 th edition, Volume 2, Youmans Neurological Surgery. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2004. |
| 8. | Rosetti P, Ben Taib NO, Brotchi J, De Witte O. Arnold Chiari Type I malformation presenting as a trigeminal neuralgia: Case report. Neurosurgery 1999;44:1122-3. |
| 9. | da Silva JA, Holanda MM. Basilar impression, Chiari malformation and syringomyelia: A retrospective study of 53 surgically treated patients. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2003;61:368-75. |
| 10. | Liu J, Yuan Y, Zhang L, Fang Y, Liu H, Yu Y. Hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia in Chiari's I malformation with hydrocephalus: Case report and literature review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2014;122:64-7. |
| 11. | Takada Y, Morimoto T, Sugawara T, Ohno K. Trigeminal neuralgia associated with achondroplasia. Case Report with literature review. Acta Neurochir (Wein) 2001;143:1173-6. |
| 12. | Giglia G, Romano M, Paladino P, Virzì V, Narese F, Palermo A, et al. A painful tic convulsif due to double neurovascular impingement. J Headache Pain 2011;12:653-6. |
| 13. | Goel A, Shah A. Trigeminal neuralgia in the presence of ectatic basilar artery and basilar invagination: Treatment by foramen magnum decompression. J Neurosurg 2009;111:1220-2. |
| 14. | Reilly MM, Valentine AR, Ginsberg L. Trigeminal neuralgia associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995;58:665. |
| 15. | Hajioff D, Dorward NL, Wadley JP, Crockard HA, Palmer JD. Precise cannulation of the foramen ovale in trigeminal neuralgia complicating osteogenesis imperfecta with basilar invagination: Technical case report. Neurosurgery 2000;46:1005-8. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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