Trying to Understand MRI

[hannah48]

Hello:

Hoping someone can help me...I have been told I have trigeminal and occipital neuropathy.  But have not had an ENG test?  But my MRI says the following and wondered if this had anything to do with these two issues including migraine headaches since I was 13.

"Tiny area of increased signal in the left pons on the post contrast MO rage images may represent small capillary telangiectasia"

Your help would be very much appreciated.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Trigeminal neuralgia may be presented with typical one sided facial pain extending to temple and eye( ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve may be involved) and sore gums of the teeth of same side (maxillary branch of 5th nerve). Trigeminal neuralgia may have a triggering factor like recent history of tooth extraction, touch, cold breeze or hot sensation etc. which you need to evaluate and avoid. Drug of choice for trigeminal neuralgia is carbamazepine but as the dose may vary according to severity therefore I would advise an oral medicine specialist consultation or at least a physician to confirm this diagnosis and get you treated accordingly. Take care.

[hannah48]

Also states:

"On postcontrast MP range images, there is a focal area of increased signal in the left pons.  This may represent small in a capillary telangiectasia."