Trigeminal Nerve-Blood Vessel Relationship as Revealed by High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Effect on Pain Relief after Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Objective: Blood vessel (BV) compression of the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve [CN] V) is a common cause of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans obtained during gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with TN may be used to analyze the BV-CN V relationship. Follow-up data from a large series of patients treated with GKRS for TN were used to provide information regarding the BV-CN V relationship and pain relief.