Intracranial neoplastic lesions of the trigeminal nerve: How MRI can help

Objective: The aim of this study was to highlight the role of MRI in detecting and diagnosing trigeminal nerve neoplastic lesions. Patients and methods: 56 patients included in our study presented with trigeminal symptoms with or without other neurological symptoms, subjected to conventional MRI sequences and 3D sequences as (CISS) and T1 magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP-RAGE). The inclusion criteria included patients with intracranial neoplastic lesions involving the trigeminal nerve and/or its branches. Results: 28 patients met our inclusions criteria and subjected to statistical analysis; 19 patients were females and 9 were males ranging between 15 and 70 years with a mean age of 47.5 years. 14 lesions were benign and 14 were malignant, and were distributed according to final diagnosis as meningiomas (10 cases), lymphoma (6 cases), deposits (4 cases), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (4 cases) schwannoma (3 cases), and neurofibroma (one case). The most frequent involved segments of the trigeminal nerve was simultaneous involvement of both Meckel's cave and cavernous sinus in nine cases (32%). Conclusions: MRI is very helpful in demonstrating the whole intra-cranial course of the trigeminal nerve and in diagnosing various neoplastic lesions involving the nerve, and thus providing full road map before management