Trigeminal neuralgia and persistent idiopathic facial pain

Authors

  • Mark Obermann Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
  • Dagny Holle Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
  • Zaza Katsarava Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2012.16

Keywords:

Trigeminal neuralgia, Persistent idiopathic facial pain, Atypical facial pain, Pathophysiology, Treatment, Differential diagnosis

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) are two of the most puzzling orofacial pain conditions and affected patients often are very difficult to treat. TN is characterized by paroxysms of brief but crucial pain, followed by asymptomatic periods without pain. In some patients a constant dull background pain may persist. This constant dull pain sometimes makes the distinction from PIFP difficult. PIFP is defined as continuous facial pain, typically localized in a circumscribed area of the face, which is not accompanied by any neurological or other lesion identified by clinical examination or clinical investigations. The pain usually does not stay within the usual anatomic boundaries of the trigeminal nerve distribution and is a diagnosis of exclusion. Epidemiologic evidence on TN and even more so on PIFP is quite scarce, but generally both conditions are considered to be rare diseases. The aetiology and underlying pathophysiology of TN and more so PIFP remain unknown. Treatment is based on only few randomized controlled clinical trials and insufficiently evaluated surgical procedures.

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Author Biographies

Mark Obermann, Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Dagny Holle, Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Zaza Katsarava, Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

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Published

2012-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Obermann M, Holle D, Katsarava Z. Trigeminal neuralgia and persistent idiopathic facial pain. Headache Med [Internet]. 2012 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];3(2):76-87. Available from: https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/324

Issue

Section

Review