J Korean Soc Radiol.  2025 Jan;86(1):185-190. 10.3348/jksr.2024.0088.

Trigeminal Neuralgia with Persistent Trigeminal Artery Variant and Schwannomatosis of the Abducens and Lower Cranial Nerves: A Case Report

• Kim SG
• Choi HJ
• Cho KG
• Kim JY
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2564844
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2024.0088

Abstract

Multiple cranial neuropathies are complex neurological disorders that present significant treatment challenges due to their intricate and multifaceted underlying causes. Persistent trigeminal artery variant (PTAV) is an unusual anastomosis that connects the internal carotid artery to the cerebellar artery, bypassing the basilar artery. The incidence of PTAVs is approximately 0.18% and neurovascular compression is rarely reported. Patients with schwannomatosis typically have multiple schwannomas without vestibular nerve involvement, which may develop in the spinal nerve roots and, less commonly, in the cranial nerves. We report the case of a 53-year-old female with trigeminal neuralgia associated with PTAV and schwannomatosis in the abducens and lower cranial nerves as dual etiologies for multiple cranial neuropathies.

Keyword

Multiple Cranial Neuropathies; Persistent Trigeminal Artery Variant; Abducens Nerve; Lower Cranial Nerves; Schwannoma; Schwannomatosis