MRI Report

  : : I was diagnosed with TN several years ago. Could you please explain to me in terms that I can understand the results of the MRI:
  : : FINDINGS:  Flow voids demonstrated in the vertebrobasilar and internal carotid arteries.  Basilar artery is to the right of midline on image E5 very close to right trig. nerve root exit zone.  Don't think there is contact.  Brainstem signal characteristics normal, Cerebral hemispheres normal...no staining of either trig nerve and no evidence of mass in cerebellopontine angle.
  : : CONCLUSION:  Basilar artery swings to right of the pons near the right trig nerve near exit zone.
  : : Thanks for your help.
  : Dear Susan:
  : All this means is that they detect blood flow in the basilar artery (this
  : is located in the back of the brain). The artery swings to the right side
  : close to where the trigeminal nerve comes out of the brainstem.
  : The radiologist is not quite sure that the basilar artery touches the
  : nerve root but he does not seem to think that there is contact.
  : I hope this helps!

  Thanks for the quick response.  My next questions are...does that mean I would be a good candidate for an MVD?  And what about an GK procedure?
  Does the swinging to the right mean there is a loop in the artery?
  Thanks again.
Dear Susan:
That means that the artery swings to the right and it does not necessarily mean that it has an extra loop.
Without looking at the MRI and examining you I can not comment on whether
you are a candidate for MVD. Gamma Knife is an option but relief is not typically
quick with GK procedures.
Good Luck!