Ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry of the trigeminal peripheral myelinated axons in patients with neuralgia.

Objective: Detailed ultrastructural and immunohistochemical examination of the trigeminal axons surrounded by the peripheral type of the myelin could add new information about the extent of the trigeminal nerve lesion in neuralgia.

Patients, Materials And Methods: The examination comprised, firstly, the 10 trigeminal nerve roots (TNRs) in which the neurovascular contact was found in 20% of the cases, and the 2 additional control TNRs. Secondly, the biopsy specimens were taken from 6 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 2 patients with trigeminal neuropathy following a partial TNR rhizotomy.