Association Between Foramen Rotundum and Trigeminal Neuralgia in the Saudi Population: A Radiological Study

The trigeminal nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face, nasal and mouth cavities, and most of the scalp. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic facial pain disorder characterized by spontaneous paroxysmal pain throughout the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-01, Vol.16 (1), p.e51932-e51932
Main Authors: Ismail, Essam E, Alaftan, Mohammed S, Aljoaid, Rinad M, Al Musabeh, Fatima M, Alaidarous, Sana M, Alsultan, Deem Hamad, Alammari, Mohammed A, Hiware, Sanket D, Amalraj, V Christopher, Gajbe, Ujwal, Singh, Brij Raj
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomy
Data analysis
Females
Gender
Males
Pain
Sinuses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The trigeminal nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face, nasal and mouth cavities, and most of the scalp. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic facial pain disorder characterized by spontaneous paroxysmal pain throughout the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. This study investigated the morphological and morphometric variations of the foramen rotundum (FR) and its association with TN through a retrospective radiological analysis. A cohort of 97 participants from King Fahad University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, comprising 57 TN patients and 40 controls, underwent head CT scans for measurement and analysis. The study revealed significant differences in the FR morphology between TN patients and controls, particularly noting narrower FR measurements among TN individuals, especially in females. The right side demonstrated narrower FR dimensions, potentially correlating with the predominant side of pain in TN patients. While the presence of bony spurs was absent in all participants, variations in FR shape, size, and spatial positioning were observed and compared across genders and groups. These findings provide crucial insights into the potential anatomical factors contributing to TN, emphasizing the importance of understanding FR variations in clinical assessment and management of TN cases. Further research focusing on FR morphology and its clinical implications is recommended to enhance understanding and aid medical professionals in addressing TN-related concerns.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.51932