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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
MRI characteristics of trigeminal nerve involvement in patients with multiple sclerosis
Charlotte Swinnen1, Sophie Lunskens2, Olivier Deryck1
1Department of Neurology, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium.
Background:
Trigeminal neuralgia and central sensory disturbances are common in patients with multiple sclerosis. The anatomic correlation to lesions in the trigeminal nuclei in the brainstem is not well studied.
Objective:
We studied the anatomical characteristics of demyelinating lesions of the trigeminal complex in the brainstem on MRI in patients with MS and Clinically Isolated syndrome (CIS).
Materials And Methods:
43 Patients with MS or CIS and MRI lesions in the trigeminal complex in the brainstem were selected from a large database of patients referred for MRI because of trigeminal symptoms.
Results And Conclusion:
A linear plaque involving the intrapontine fascicular part of the trigeminal nerve and lesions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract seem to be distinctive MRI findings in patients with RRMS or CIS.
