Tractography Sdudy Of The Trigeminal Nerve In Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgaa Due To Multiple Sclerosis

ObjectiveTrigeminal neuralgia is one of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.This study used diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracer(DTI-FT)technology to research fiber microstructure change of multiple sclerosis patients which have trigeminal neuralgia symptoms without nerve vascular reason and apparent trigeminal nerve lesions,and to explore its clinical application value.Methods20 MS and 20 age-and gender-matched normal controls were collected by using DTI tractography.DTI data were compared between these two groups.The relationships between the expanded disability states scale(EDSS)scores and DTI parameters of the interesting regions were further explored.ResultsWhether comparing the controls and non-affected side with the TN affected side or comparing the affected side with the contralateral side,FA value was low and differences were statistically significant(p < 0.05);by comparing the affected side and non-affected side of healthy controls,the difference of ADC decreased were statistically significant(p < 0.05),but when TN affected side compared with the contralateral side,no statistically significant difference of ADC values was found(p > 0.05).FA values and clinical EDSS scores have a negative correlation(p < 0.05),but the ADC has no significant correlation with clinical data(p > 0.05).ConclusionTrigeminal DTI parameters were abnormal for MS patients not only in the TN affected side but also in the contralateral side.DTI can find the microscopic damage which conventional MRI can't detect.At the same time,DTI can provide direct evidence for clinical function of MS trigeminal nerve injury and reveal the pathological changes.