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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Case of microarteriovenous malformation-induced trigeminal neuralgia treated with radiosurgery
William S Anderson1, Paul P Wang, Daniele Rigamonti
1The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Abstract:
Radiosurgery to the right fifth cranial nerve was performed with the Gamma Knife on a 39- year-old patient who presented with classic symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), but was found on imaging studies to harbour a small intrinsic vascular malformation within the nerve. Based on size and drainage, the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was Spetzler-Martin Grade III and no previous history of bleeding was reported. The patient had failed a trial of carbamazepine, and no surgical procedures had been performed. A decrease in symptoms was reported by the 6-month follow-up. A review of the literature on microAVM-induced TN is provided as well as a discussion of management.
