Pontomesencephalic cistern
High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans are able to demonstrate significant volumetric differences of the pontomesencephalic cistern in patients with unilateral TN. A smaller cistern may be correlated with the occurrence of a neurovascular compression, and these findings support the neurovascular compression theory in idiopathic TN 1).
Park et al. confirmed that small pontomesencephalic cistern volumes were more frequent in patients with TN 2).
1)
Rasche D, Kress B, Stippich C, Nennig E, Sartor K, Tronnier VM. Volumetric measurement of the pontomesencephalic cistern in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and healthy controls. Neurosurgery. 2006 Sep;59(3):614-20; discussion 614-20. PubMed PMID: 16955043.
2)
Park YS, Ha SM. Does a small posterior fossa increase nerve vascular conflict in trigeminal neuralgia? Acta Radiol. 2014 Dec 8. pii: 0284185114561914. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25487716.